Pensions, wages top issues for Air Canada workers

Pensions, wage increases, benefit improvements and scheduling are among the top issues as Air Canada opens negotiations next week with the union representing customer service agents.

Canadian Auto Workers president Ken Lewenza will join the opening round of talks Feb. 11.

The union says workers have made tremendous sacrifices to help the airline get back to profitability but that wages have not kept pace with inflation.

A survey of members identified wage increases, paid lunch breaks, vacation, sick time and benefit improvements as the top issues, according to a union bargaining update available to members.

The CAW said its workers want respect from Canada's largest carrier and to be paid accordingly.

Pensions dominated the last round of collective bargaining, with the unions agreeing to provide Air Canada a 21-month holiday on past service pension contributions and fixed payments until 2014.

The union said Air Canada is again raising concerns about the funding of the pension plan. But it does not intend to have this round of bargaining "sidetracked by pension discussions."

Meanwhile, Jamie Ross has been named president of the local union representing 3,800 customer service and sales agents after Leslie Dias was appointed national staff representative.

An election for president will take place in the spring.

Negotiations with other employee groups including dispatchers, flight attendants, mechanics and pilots are expected to begin at various times over the coming weeks.