Janitors at Vancouver airport ratify deal with employer, end strike

The janitors who clean the Vancouver International Airport have ratified a new collective agreement with their employer, ending their strike on Christmas Eve.

Service Employees International Union Local 2, which represents the 233 members of YVR's janitorial staff, said the workers won a $25 hourly wage and an overnight shift premium.

Their employer, Alpine Building Maintenance, did not meet their demand for retirement security, however.

"We didn’t win everything we wanted, but we think it’s a good deal and this experience brought us closer together," said overnight worker Varinder Singh, in a statement from SEIU Local 2.

"We know our job here is not done. Our grandparents shouldn’t have to keep on working well into their senior years just because they can’t afford to retire. We need to do better, and we will fight for that next time."

The janitors previously announced they would be escalating their job action Tuesday – on one of YVR's busiest travel days of the year – by setting up picket lines at undisclosed locations around the airport.

Those plans were called off at the last minute after the union and employer reached a tentative agreement Tuesday morning. The workers ratified the deal just hours later.

After the tentative agreement was reached, Alpine Building Maintenance suggested normal operations could resume mid-afternoon on Christmas Eve.

"We are fully committed to service recovery. We thank (YVR) for its patience and support throughout this process and busy holiday season," said Leta Hill, company COO, in a statement.