A.S.P. Security Workers at Toronto Pearson Prepare for Upcoming Contract Bargaining

TORONTO, ONTARIO — August 31, 2026 — Security workers employed by A.S.P. at Toronto Pearson International Airport are preparing for a new round of collective bargaining, with Unifor Local 2002 announcing a series of pre-bargaining information sessions aimed at gathering worker concerns and priorities ahead of negotiations.

The union announced the meetings on August 31, saying A.S.P. members at Pearson will have an opportunity to raise workplace issues, ask questions about the bargaining process and submit proposals for consideration in the next collective agreement.

The first sessions are scheduled for Tuesday, September 8, at the Sheraton Gateway Hotel at Terminal 3.

Two meeting periods are planned: the first from 11:00 a.m. to 2:45 p.m., followed by a second session from 4:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. The specific meeting room has not yet been confirmed.

What the Meetings Will Cover

According to Unifor, the pre-bargaining sessions are intended to give members a direct role in shaping the union's priorities before formal negotiations begin.

Workers will be invited to identify workplace concerns they want addressed, learn how the collective bargaining process works and receive information on how members can be nominated to serve on the bargaining committee.

Union representatives will also answer questions about the existing collective agreement and help workers prepare formal bargaining proposals that can be put before the membership.

District, Local and National Unifor representatives are expected to be available throughout the meeting periods.

The union says the September 8 gathering will be the first of additional meetings, signalling that preparations are still in the early stages.

Current Agreement Expires at End of 2026

The timing is significant because the existing collective agreement between A.S.P. Incorporated and Unifor Local 2002 at Toronto Pearson expires December 31, 2026.

That gives the union and employer several months to prepare for negotiations over a replacement agreement.

The current agreement recognizes Unifor Local 2002 as the exclusive bargaining representative for covered A.S.P. employees working at Pearson, excluding management and certain confidential positions.

No strike vote or strike deadline has been announced.

At this stage, the union is focused on gathering member input and developing bargaining priorities.

Who Are A.S.P. Workers at Pearson?

A.S.P. employees perform a number of security-related duties throughout Toronto Pearson.

According to Unifor, members working for A.S.P. provide terminal access control, door patrols, airside access control, pass control and other security specialist functions at the airport.

Unifor also says some workers perform canine security duties related to explosive detection and other security concerns, while Operational Support Representatives provide passenger management, queue management and access-control services in airport terminals.

Those positions form part of the larger security system responsible for controlling movement into restricted and airside areas of Canada's busiest airport.

Because of those responsibilities, any major labour dispute involving airport security workers could attract attention from passengers, airlines and airport operators.

There is currently no indication that airport operations are being disrupted by the bargaining preparations.

Wages, Benefits and Scheduling Expected to Be Key Issues

Unifor has already publicly identified several areas it believes require improvement for A.S.P. employees.

In a statement issued on August 25, the union said workers deserve improvements involving wages, benefits, scheduling, job security and workplace respect as bargaining approaches.

Those comments do not necessarily represent the final bargaining package.

The September meetings are specifically intended to allow workers themselves to decide which issues should receive priority.

Scheduling has already been an active workplace issue.

In July, Unifor sought A.S.P. members interested in serving on a union scheduling committee, another indication that scheduling concerns are likely to remain part of the broader workplace discussion.

Union Representation Dispute Adds Another Dimension

The bargaining preparations are occurring amid another development involving A.S.P. employees.

Unifor said on August 25 that representatives and supporters of CAWU had been approaching A.S.P. employees at both Toronto Pearson and Billy Bishop Airport seeking support to replace Unifor as their bargaining representative.

Unifor urged its members to remain with the union, arguing that changing representation while contract negotiations are approaching could create uncertainty.

The union also noted that the GTAA contract is being renewed while the A.S.P. collective agreement approaches its year-end expiry.

That combination makes the coming months potentially important for employees working in Pearson's security operations.

No Labour Disruption at This Time

Passengers should understand that the announcement does not mean a strike is underway or imminent.

Pre-bargaining meetings are a normal part of the collective bargaining process and generally take place well before negotiations reach the stage of possible job action.

The September 8 meetings are primarily intended to establish what employees want their bargaining representatives to seek from A.S.P. when formal negotiations begin.

Any future strike would normally require additional steps, potentially including negotiations, a strike vote and compliance with federal labour law.

None of those developments has been announced in connection with the September meetings.

Why the Negotiations Matter at Pearson

Toronto Pearson is Canada's busiest airport and relies on thousands of workers employed both directly by the Greater Toronto Airports Authority and by outside contractors.

A.S.P. employees are among those contractors performing functions necessary to maintain controlled access to airport terminals and restricted areas.

While passengers may rarely notice many of those employees, access-control and security operations are an important part of keeping airport facilities functioning.

The coming negotiations will therefore be worth watching, particularly if the two sides encounter disagreements over wages, staffing, scheduling or other working conditions.

For now, the process remains at the member consultation and preparation stage.

The first pre-bargaining meetings will take place September 8, with further sessions expected afterward.

CanJam News will continue monitoring the A.S.P.–Unifor negotiations at Toronto Pearson, including bargaining proposals, contract talks and any developments that could affect workers or airport operations.