Steelworkers ready to bargain with Aeroguard at Whitehorse Airport

    WHITEHORSE, YT, Nov. 1 /CNW/ - Representatives from Canada's largest
union in the security sector, the United Steelworkers (USW), are preparing
proposals for a first collective agreement for recently-unionized workers at
the Whitehorse International Airport.
    The 30 full- and part-time employees of Aeroguard Inc., who provide
pre-board screening at the airport, recently won the right to be represented
by the USW and the next step is to prepare for first-contract negotiations.
    USW Staff Representatives Steve Dewell and Jeff Kallichuk have met with
the screeners to map out bargaining with the company. The union has bargained
on behalf of members employed by Aeroguard at the Yellowknife Airport and
several other security firms contracted to provide pre-board screening in
airports across Canada.
    "The workers at Aeroguard became Steelworkers to gain a strong voice in
improving their working conditions and we hope to get contract talks under way
in the near future," said Dewell.
    Airlines using the Whitehorse Airport include Air Canada and Air Canada
Jazz, Air North, First Air and Condor Airlines.
    The USW is Canada's most diverse union, representing more than 280,000
men and women working in every sector of the economy, including about 12,000
in the security sector.

For further information: Steve Dewell [phone]; [phone]