VANCOUVER, April 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Concerns over job security, restoring pension funding, and greater autonomy in the workplace have pushed couriers at ICS to vote in favour of strike action if a resolution cannot be found.
"We want to get a solution done at the bargaining table," said Unifor Local 114 plant chair Kevin Gibbs. "But ICS has to get serious about a deal."
Bargaining has been ongoing for months, and since February 25, 2015 the employer and Unifor Local 114 have been engaged in the conciliation process under Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS), but the workers could strike as soon as May 14, 2015.
ICS is owned by Transforce, a company that has bought up many of the courier businesses in Canada in recent years. In Western Canada they have been slowly consolidating these companies leaving hundreds of workers without jobs. ICS workers want binding assurances about job security as Transforce consolidates its workforce.
One of the key bargaining demands for the couriers is pension funding that was cut in 2006. Unifor says that now that the company is on more secure footing, it needs to restore that funding.
"Our members are prepared to walk a picket line for the job security and restored pension funding that they deserve," said Mario Santos, the Unifor National Representative at the bargaining table.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.
SOURCE Unifor
For further information: please contact Unifor Communications Representative Ian Boyko at 778-903-6549 (cell) orIan.Boyko@Unifor.org
