The 350 members of Unifor Local 531 have reached their first tentative deal with WestJet at Toronto Pearson International Airport.
"A first contract sets the base from which we bargain in the future and WestJet members have worked hard to reach this tentative agreement," said Unifor National President Lana Payne.
The WestJet workers covered by the agreement are mostly customer service and baggage agents. Bargaining first began October 24 last year, after the Canada Industrial Relations Board certified Unifor's application for the WestJet workers in Toronto to join the union last July.
Among the key issues were wages, job security and seniority rights.
"We have implemented scope of work language which guarantees job protection, created a wage grid which prevents the stagnation of our pay, and established a grievance procedure," said Karen Berry, President of Local 531.
Labour disruption is still a possibility at WestJet, as early as the May long weekend. Talks between the union representing 1,800 WS pilots and the company have so far failed to reach an agreement. A 60-day federal conciliation period elapsed without an agreement, triggering a statutory 21-day cooling-off period.
The Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA) says its representatives will still be open to talks during that time if the company is willing.
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