/R E P E A T -- Strike averted at Air Transat - New deal to be submitted to members for ratification/

MONTREAL, July 4, 2016 /CNW Telbec/ - The Union representing cabin personnel at Air Transat agrees to present the recommendation of a federal mediator to its members for ratification.

"The strike that was announced for next Friday has been averted. We have been in intensive talks for the last few days. We will now present the mediator's recommendation to our members. No other comments can be made on the recommendation until the members have been informed of the details" explained Martyn Smith, President of the Air Transat Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees.

In June, Air Transat flight attendants voted 93.2 per cent against the tentative agreement reached on June 6^th with the employer. On June 1^st, flight attendants had voted 98.5 per cent in favour of a strike mandate.

The previous collective agreement ended on October 31, 2015. The negotiation process started in September 2015. Last March, when negotiations were at a deadlock, the union requested the assistance of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

« We will vote on the result of our negotiations in the coming weeks. We thank our passengers for their understanding and we wish them a great summer » concluded the Union president.

The 1,750 cabin crew members come under CUPE locals 4041 in Montreal, 4047 in Toronto and 4078 in Vancouver, all part of the Air Transat Component of CUPE.

CUPE is Canada's largest union with over 635,000 members across the country. Its airline division represents approximately 10,000 members in seven airlines: Air Canada (including the low-cost carrier rouge), Air Transat, Sunwing, Cathay Pacific, Calm Air, First Air and Canadian North.

SOURCE Canadian Union of Public Employees (FTQ)

Lisa Djevahirdjian, CUPE/SCFP communications, 514 831-3815