Protection of screening officers

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers

 

April 2, 2020

Honorable Marc Garneau                                                                                                           

Minister of Transportation                                                                                

House of Commons                                                                                            

Ottawa, Ontario                                                                                                        

Canada                            

K1A 0A6                                                                        

Re: Protection of screening officers during the Covid-19 Pandemic

Dear Mr. Garneau,

The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAMAW) is the bargaining agent for nearly 90% of screening officers across Canada, who work in major Canadian airports, such as Vancouver and Toronto Pearson Airport. Both airports are major hubs that connect Canada to the world. Screeners in Toronto Pearson Airport process 130,000 passengers on a daily basis without incidents or disruptions, and work very closely with the travelling public. Not only is the work of screening officers significant for the safety and security of domestic and international passengers, they are at the core of making airports function

I am writing you today asking for your help with a troubling issue concerning our screening officers. CATSA, the regulating body for Airport screening, is not allowing the service providers to supply the proper personal protective equipment to our screening officers at all airports across Canada. CATSA has been referring to standards issued by Health Canada for the general public. The IAMAW believes that screening officers should be treated as front line employees and supplied with the appropriate personal protective equipment. The IAMAW and the service providers in both Toronto and in British Columbia have done Joint Hazardous Risk Assessments and the findings with regards to personal protective equipment are being refused to be implemented by the service providers.

We are requesting that Transport Canada immediately issue a guidance protecting our front line airport screeners ordering the service providers to change standard operating procedures and provide the proper personal protective equipment.

We have included our submission to Transport Canada for immediate review.
I trust you will take swift actions to address these issues and I thank you for your assistance in advance. Yours truly,

Keith Aiken
Air Transportation Coordinator IAMAW Canada

English Submission to Transport Canada
French Submission to Transport Canada fr