U.S.-Based Air Canada Teamster Vote More Than 65 Percent In Favor Of New Agreement

A new contract covering more than 500 U.S.-based Air Canada employees was ratified by Teamster members who voted 200-to-101 in favor of the agreement. Voting was conducted electronically beginning on March 17, and when the ballots were tallied, they showed overwhelming support for the new seven-year contract.

"We are pleased that our members at Air Canada have approved a strong contract that keeps their jobs secure and raises workplace standards at the airline," said Capt. David Bourne, Director of the Teamsters Airline Division. "Our focus was to negotiate a contract worthy of our members' hard work and dedication. That's why we went back to the table after members voted down the previous tentative agreement. The members have now spoken, showing the new contract meets the exceptional standards that our members deserve."

The new agreement, in effect through June 2019, provides increases to the top of the wage scale of 2 percent each year for the first three years of the contract beginning July 1, 2012, and 3 percent each year for the next two years of the contract followed by 2 percent for the last two years of the contract. In 2018 member will receive a lump sum bonus of 2 percent.

The Air Canada contract also expands job security with a no-subcontracting provision protecting Teamster work even if flights at a station are entirely replaced with another carrier's flights. The agreement also gives newer hires access to retirement benefits and new health care options for all members covered by the contract.

Air Canada Teamsters in the U.S. work as customer service and ramp agents at stations in California, Florida, New York, and other areas.

(Image from file)

FMI: www.teamster.org