Transformative change at Air Canada continues with conclusion of ratifications by members of all Canadian unions representing approximately 25,000 Air Canada employees
MONTREAL, June 14, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada today confirmed the ratification of its 10th and final labour agreement with its Canadian unions. This completes Air Canada's current cycle of labour negotiations and establishes long term contracts extending in most cases over a ten year duration for all of its approximately 25,000 unionized employees in Canada.
"The ratification of new labour contracts by all of Air Canada's unionized employees in Canada over the past year and a half is an unprecedented achievement that recognizes the important contribution of our employees and underscores the transformative change that has taken place at Air Canada," said Calin Rovinescu, President and Chief Executive of Air Canada. "The ratifications of these agreements – ten in total – provide long term contracts for our employees and are landmarks in the history of Air Canada. Their conclusion brings added stability and flexibility to support long-term and profitable growth of benefit for all stakeholders. It is also a strong indication of the collaborative partnership that is building Air Canada into a Global Champion."
Members of Unifor, representing the airline's 88 in-flight crew schedulers, became the 10th and final bargaining unit representing Air Canada's unionized employees in Canada to have ratified a new contract on long term collective agreement terms. This follows other ratifications in the past two weeks of new contracts, also on collective agreement terms for 10 years, for members of two bargaining units of the IAMAW, representing a total of 300 finance and clerical staff.
In February 2016, flight dispatchers represented by CALDA ratified a 12-year contract, following 10-year contracts ratified by members of the IAMAW, representing Air Canada's 8,500 technical, maintenance, airport ramp and cargo personnel; CUPE, representing the airline's 7,500 flight attendants, and ACPA, representing its 3,300 pilots. In 2015, members of Unifor representing the airline's 4,200 Customer Service and Sales Agents in Canada ratified a five-year contract and provisions have been negotiated to conclude collective agreement terms for another five years. The airline also has new contracts in place with the two largest unions representing its employees outside of Canada, the International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT) representing its U.S. unionized workforce and UNITE representing its U.K. unionized workforce.
About Air Canada
Air Canada is Canada's largest domestic and international airline serving more than 200 airports on six continents. Canada's flag carrier is among the 20 largest airlines in the world and in 2015 served more than 41 million customers. Air Canada provides scheduled passenger service directly to 64 airports in Canada, 55 in the United States and 87 in Europe, the Middle East, Africa, Asia, Australia, the Caribbean, Mexico, Central America and South America. Air Canada is a founding member of Star Alliance, the world's most comprehensive air transportation network serving 1,330 airports in 192 countries. Air Canada is the only international network carrier in North America to receive a Four-Star ranking according to independent U.K. research firm Skytrax. For more information, please visit: www.aircanada.com, follow @AirCanada on Twitter and join Air Canada on Facebook.
SOURCE Air Canada
Isabelle Arthur (Montréal), [email protected], 514 422-5788; Peter Fitzpatrick (Toronto), [email protected], 416 263-5576; Angela Mah(Vancouver), [email protected], 604 270-5741; Internet: aircanada.com
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