Bargaining

VANCOUVER—The flags had barely been rolled up and the placards put down this morning, after the country’s final boisterous solidarity rally in support of Air Canada’s 6,800 flight attendants, when an agreement in principle was reached between the airline and the union, represented by CUPE’s Air Canada Component.

The tentative deal—which ends the threat of a strike that had been looming over Air Canada in recent weeks—was reached early this afternoon (Tuesday) after flight attendants held rallies in Montreal,

MONTREAL—Air Transat flight attendants have ratified a new collective agreement crediting a united front during negotiations. CUPE Air Transat Component members voted 65 per cent in favour of a five-year agreement retroactive to November 1, 2010.

The flight attendants refused to accept concessions at the table and fought for and won their major bargaining goals, including substantial retirement plan improvements and wage increases (lump sum and recurring increases) totaling 12 per cent over five years.

VANCOUVER – CUPE 4078 members at Vancouver International Airport have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action. The 225 members join more than 1,500 Air Transat flight attendants across the country in returning a 93 per cent strike mandate to their bargaining team. The vote results come after the airline workers rejected the employers’ last offer by 95 per cent.

Local 4078 president Julie Roberts said she is extremely proud of how solidly the local is behind the bargaining committee.

BURNABY—Members of CUPE 7000, SkyTrain workers, have ratified a three-year agreement with the British Columbia Rapid Transit Company (BCRTC).

The agreement includes improvements to language such as shift differentials; a comparator wage adjustment of three per cent with a one-half per cent lift for trades in the first year; wage increases in years two and three will match those of other transit workers under Translink who are currently in negotiations; and the creation of a joint committee to examine and recommend a pension plan for CUPE 7000 members.

“Our members want to mo