A strike continues at Winnipeg's airport.

Dozens of airport employees took to the picket line yesterday morning after about 120 workers represented by the Union of Canadian Transport Employees (and the Public Service Alliance of Canada) were unable to reach a deal with the Winnipeg Airports Authority.

The jobs affected include administrative and trade staff, duty managers, and airfield and groundside operations, according to union representatives.

Jessica Klym is the vice president of the local branch of the union, and the strike captain. She says there are still a number of concerns.

 

 

In a release, the WAA says it uses contractors for non-union work, which it says is permitted in the collective agreement. It says "WAA does not contract out Union work outside of what is allowed in the collective agreement."

The WAA release says UCTE is asking for a 5.5 per cent wage increase in each year of a two-year agreement, retroactive to 2016, and a further increase at the top of each salary range. The WAA had offered a five per cent wage increase over a five-year agreement, and says it upped that to 7.5 per cent on Sunday in hopes of reaching a deal.

Klym says the employees are united and supporting each other.

Travellers aren't expected to experience delays, as agreements are in place to ensure essential services are maintained.