Vancouver airport workers issue strike deadline, say flights may be affected

Flights at Vancouver International Airport may be disrupted this weekend, according to aunion that delivered a strike deadline Wednesday afternoon, but airport officials say contingency plans are in place.

In a statement, Todd Haverstock, chairman of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM), Transport DistrictLodge 140, said the union has set a deadline of 1 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 26.

The workers are employees of SwissportInternational Ltd, which provides baggage and grooming services and manages the airport's baggage belt services. The employees servicemore than 20 airlines that use the airport, according to the union.

Altogether, the IAM represents nearly 4,000 airport workers total, but Haverstock addedthat in the event of a strike by Lodge 140, the rest of the airport's employees would be bound by law to go to work.

Swissportemploys 855 workers,Haverstocksaid.

Haverstock said the union has been without a contract for more than a year. A tentative agreement was reached earlier this month, but on Monday the union voted against the agreement. The same day, the union voted 71 per cent in favour of a strike.

Airport hopeful for quick resolution

In a statement, YVR officials said contingency plans were being put in place, with airlines co-ordinating directly with Swissport, and that there is currently no impact to operations.

However, officials did not guaranteethat no flights wouldbe affectedby any possible job action.

"YVR remains hopefulthat the matter will be resolved quickly with an agreement that is favourable for both parties. YVR recommends passengers check the status of their flight with their airlines," the statement said.

Officials emphasized Swissport does not provide baggage handling for Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Swift Air, Central Mountain Air, Air North and Aeromexico.

Rich Leach, Swissport's general manager for their YVR Operations, said they were in still discussions with the union, and were optimistic a "mutually beneficial outcome" could be reached.