Air Canada and union reach agreement

Air Canada and the Canadian Auto Workers union have reached a tentative agreement to end a strike by 3800 customer service agents (The New York Times/Postmedia News/Toronto Star, 16-Jun-2011). The settlement put off resolution on the most contentious issue in the negotiations and now binding arbitration will determine the fate of Air Canada's plan to give new employees a different pension plan. Existing employees will not see a change in their benefit plan. The union has asked its members to return to work on 17-Jun-2011. The new agreement, which will last four years, will be presented to the union membership for ratification in the next four or five days. The settlement was reached just hours after Labour Minister Lisa Raitt tabled back-to-work legislation in the House of Commons. Mr Raitt has congratulated all parties on reaching the agreement. [more - Canadian Labour Minister]