Transformative Change At Air Canada Continues With Conclusion Of Ratifications By Members Of All Canadian Unions Representing Approximately 25,000 Air Canada Employees

Air Canada has confirmed the ratification of its 10th and final labour agreement with its Canadian unions. This completes Air Canada's current cycle of labor 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.

(Source: Air Canada news release. Image from file)

FMI: www.aircanada.com