Letter from Rick Singh, President of Local Lodge 16 in British Columbia

Dear Sisters and Brothers,

My name is Rick Singh. I am President of IAM Local 16 in British Columbia and have been a screener for almost eight years. Local 16 represents approximately 1200 Screening Officers in the Pacific Region, as well as many other smaller groups which are based mainly at airports.

In August 2011, fellow screeners/shop stewards, Brother Derek Rose, Sister Zaineb Ghlayem and I visited Toronto Island and Pearson Airports to share our experiences with you, and to hear what your concerns were.

It became very clear very quickly that YYZ screeners were looking for a change! That change has now come to pass!
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate you and welcome you to the IAM family, and share with you how excited we are in Vancouver that you have decided to join this great union.

Representing airports in Toronto, and across most of the pacific region, the IAMAW now represents the largest collective group of screeners in Canada!

This is a great victory for screeners in the Toronto area to regain a sense of participation and democracy. I have every hope that together we will raise the social conditions and standard of living for screeners and their families at all airports now represented by the IAM.

I encourage you all to do your best to forget the bad blood, resentment and the grudges and work together to make a positive difference in our work places as well as in our lives.

Together we can make a difference! Welcome!!

Rick Singh
President, IAM Local Lodge 16
1-877-303-0461 Office • (778) 926-6016 Cell