Union claims victory on pension contribution increases and shift lengths
Air Transat’s 1,500 flight attendants have voted 65 per cent in favour of accepting a new collective agreement.
The five-year contract, retroactive to November 2010 when the previous contract expired, contains improvements to the company pension plan — a point the union is claiming victory on. The plan will see both employee and employer contributions based on employees’ annual salaries improve from two per cent to five per cent.
“Thanks to the support and involvement of our flight attendants, our union was able to attain its negotiating goals,” said president of the Air Transat Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Nathalie Stringer. “We're particularly pleased with the improvements in our retirement plan.”
Tentatively reached in July, the agreement also contains total lump sum and wage increases totaling 12 per cent over five years, according to a release issued by the union. Additionally, maximum shift length will remain at 14 hours, not the 15 hours that the airline initially requested.
"We are happy with the agreement reached with the flight attendants," said president and CEO of Air Transat Allen B. Graham in a press release.
In mid-June, 95 per cent of the flight attendants rejected a contract offer and voted 93 per cent in favour of giving a strike mandate. No strike date was set.
Earlier this week, the Air Canada Component of CUPE, representing about 6,800 flight attendants, reached a tentative deal with the airline. Details are yet to be released.
