Canada : Air Transat flight attendants ratify collective agreement
The union that represents Air Transat flight attendants reported 61 per cent of its members have ratified a collective agreement, retroactive to Nov. 1, 2015.
“There was
the expected light turbulence but for the most part discussions maintained optimism and good labour relations which we hope will continue throughout this collective agreement,” said Martyn Smith, president of the Air Transat Component of CUPE.
The new six-year deal was initially rejected by the membership, as earlier attempts at an agreement failed, but the union has now accepted the deal.
On June 30, 93.2 per cent of cabin crew members had rejected a tentative agreement reached on June 6, just days after they voted in favour of a strike mandate.
“We are very pleased that the proposed offer has been accepted by a majority of our flight attendants,” said Air Transat president and general manager Jean-François Lemay.
Montreal-based Air Transat is an international tour operator operating in more than 60 destination countries.
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.