Air Canada service agents ratify new collective agreement

TORONTO, June 25, 2015 /CNW/ - Members of Unifor Local 2002, representing over 4,000 Customer Service and Sales Representatives, have ratified a new five-year collective agreement with Air Canada.

"Our members deserve to share in Air Canada's record profits," said Jerry Dias, Unifor National President. "This agreement secures good jobs for Customer Sales and Service Agents now and into the future."

A pivotal arbitration victory in May 2015 paved the way towards recovering wheelchair assistance work seized earlier this year by airport authorities. New language related to the agreement also provides protections against future contracting out.

The agreement features a significant hourly wage increase for those at the lower end of the salary grid.

"From the beginning we prioritized better wages for Air Canada's newer agents, and we're very pleased that we achieved that," said Cheryl Robinson, Unifor Local 2002 President. "Wage increases combined with improved benefits make this a good deal for all of our members."

"Many of our members made sacrifices for the company during tougher times," said Robinson. "This makes real gains in benefits and job security for all of our Air Canada members."

Voting took place at membership meetings over the last 8 days. The contract is effective from March 1 to February 28, 2020.

Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing more than 305,000 workers. It was formed Labour Day weekend 2013 when the Canadian Auto Workers and the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers unions merged.

SOURCE Unifor