Toronto, Montreal baggage handlers on strike

Approximately 400 baggage handlers employed by Handlex, a subsidiary of Air Transat, are on strike at Toronto and Montreal airports.

The workers began picketing last night after a contract deal could not be reached between company and union representatives. The employees load and unload baggage for several airlines, including Air Transat, British Airways and Swissair at Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, as well as and including Air France at Mirabel and Trudeau airports in Montreal.

Salaries, as well as night and split-shift bonuses, are reported to be the main issues in the dispute. In a statement, the Greater Toronto Airports Authority said that operations at Pearson are not expected to be affected by the action. Handlex has said it has a contingency plan, and the union says it expects managers and replacement workers will be used.