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The local has about 400 members at the Edmonton airport, and there are problems with breaks on every shift, Madarash said.

One person has put in 28 grievances.

“Morale is low, absenteeism is higher. It’s not a fun place to work right now, wondering if you’re going to get a break to get your food because you’re a diabetic.”

The Edmonton members have filed more than 900 grievances.

Local president Wayne Garner, whose union also represents 700 people doing similar jobs at Calgary International Airport, said later it hasn’t been determined if the people soiling themselves was directly related to not receiving a break or workplace accommodation.

The grievances are going to arbitration, but it’s unclear how long that will take.

He’d like them resolved before the collective agreement expires next spring. The local has started an online campaign asking people to send messages supporting the pre-boarding officers to the company, the two airports and federal officials.

“The general public’s view is going through this screening is an inconvenience, but they (staff) do a good job for all of us. How often do we hear of something going wrong with an airplane? We have those folks to thank for it.”

In an emailed statement, a GardaWorld spokesperson said passenger safety is the company’s top priority: “GardaWorld believes it is meeting its contractual obligations with its screening officers in assigning timely break/meal periods. We are keeping an open dialog to resolve the situation with Teamsters local 362.”

The company is hired to provide screening services by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority, a federal Crown corporation, but labour relations issues are between the Teamsters and GardaWorld, authority spokesman Mathieu Larocque said.

“We’re aware of that (break) situation; we’re told the union and the employer are trying to work out some disagreements, but in terms of the security of passengers, nothing has changed,” he said.

“We’re monitoring that situation closely. There are no impacts on the security levels at this stage.”

gkent@postmedia.com

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