Air Transat,
attendants
ratify deal
MONTREAL — The union that
represents Air Transat flight at-
tendants said 61 per cent of its
members 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 rela-
tions which we hope will con-
tinue throughout this collective
agreement," said Martyn Smith,
president of the Air Transat
component of the Canadian
Union of Public Employees
(CUPE).
The six-year deal was initially
rejected by the membership, as
earlier attempts at an agree-
ment failed.
However, the union has now
accepted the deal.
On June 30, 93.2 per cent of
cabin crew members had re-
jected 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 accept-
ed 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 opera-
tor operating in more than 60
destination countries.
CUPE is Canada's largest
union with over 635,000 mem-
bers across the country.
Its airline division represents
about 10,000 members in seven
airlines: Air Canada (includ-
ing the low-cost carrier rouge),
Air Transat, Sunwing, Cathay
Pacific, Calm Air, First Air and
Canadian North.
USW fi les
motion
to reinstate
benefi ts
HAMILTON — United
Steelworkers union (USW) is
asking a court to return benefits
to thousands of retirees.
USW filed a motion in the
Ontario Superior Court to force
U.S. Steel Canada, operating un-
der bankruptcy protection, to
allow 20,600 former workers ac-
cess to Other Post Employment
Benefits (OPEBs). Payments
were suspended last October.
"We hear terrible stories every
day from retirees who are unable
to get the medical services and
supplies they require," said USW
Ontario director Marty Warren.
The union also objected to
$1.57 million in bonuses expect-
ed to be paid to executives.
"It's unconscionable that U.S.
Steel management can stuff their
pockets while health benefits
have been taken away from our
pensioners," said Bill Ferguson,
president of USW Local 8782.
The union has access to $2.65
million in emergency funding
for affected workers from the
Ontario government, which an-
nounced a transition fund.
But the money isn't enough,
according to the union.
"The abrupt suspension of
OPEBs caused significant hard-
ship," according to Tony De-
Paulo, assistant to USW Ontario
director.
"Retirees were in the middle
of receiving treatment for cancer
for which drugs were not cov-
ered."
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