Air Canada reaches 3rd labour agreement in 4 days
Posted February 13, 2012 7:10 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Air Canada has reached its third labour agreement in four days after coming to a tentative deal with its flight dispatcher association.
The Canadian Airline Dispatchers Association represents 74 workers, all of whom are based at Pearson.
Details of the agreement will not be released until the deal is ratified by the employees and then approved by the Air Canada board.
On Friday, Air Canada reached a tentative agreement with its 8,600 mechanics, baggage handlers, and cargo agents. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers is the carrier’s biggest union.
On Saturday the airline reached an agreement with the union representing its in-flight crew schedulers.
However, pilots could still go on strike. At issue is the airline’s plan to start a low-cost carrier that would offer discount vacation flights.
The pilots’ union has opposed that plan, arguing it would affect their pensions and have a negative impact on their own labour terms and conditions.
The 3,000-member Air Canada Pilots Association union said Thursday that it will hold a strike vote after talks with a government-appointed conciliator and management failed to produce an agreement.
The key issues are pay, pensions and the low-cost carrier plan.
With files from The Canadian Press and Reuters
