On June 3, 2009, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board granted the PSAC application for review which was filed under Section 18  that was made against the Vancouver Airport Authority.  Because of this decision, 27 additional employees are now part of UCTE Local 20221.

The employer had created a number of new positions and argued that these fell outside the scope of the bargaining certificate. Furthermore, the employer argued that the parties had negotiated a protocol agreement in 1997 to deal with exclusions, a protocol that the employer charged the union was not following.

The union said it had advised the employer that the protocol agreement was, in fact, invalid. As well, the union's position was that the CIRB has the ultimate authority to decide whether position are in or out of the bargaining unit, regardless of any protocol agreement.

The unanimous decision is a great victory for UCTE/PSAC and Local 20221.

Click here to access the decision.