By Skies Magazine | February 1, 2024 Estimated reading time 2 minutes, 24 seconds.
Air Transat flight attendants have rejected a tentative collective agreement for the second time this year, voting overwhelmingly in favour of a new strike mandate.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the airline’s flight attendants, said its members voted 81.9 per cent against the new deal reached Jan. 7, 2024.
“Remuneration for hours worked on the ground before takeoff and after landing as well as the question of onboard staffing were the main sticking points,” the union said in a statement.
The vote involved 88.7 per cent of Air Transat members and took place over 10 days, CUPE said. Union members also voted 94.6 per cent in favour of a new strike mandate, which will remain in effect until April 1.
Their previous strike mandate expired Jan. 23.
“The parties will return to the negotiating table quickly to resume discussions,” CUPE said.
Air Transat flight attendants previously rejected another tentative deal on Jan. 2, with 98.1 per cent of participating members voting against it.
They have been without a collective agreement since Oct. 31, 2022. Negotiations officially began April 27, 2023, the union said.
Air Transat flight attendants are based at Montreal-Trudeau International Airport and Toronto Pearson airport.
The union did not release details of the tentative agreement, and said it won’t comment further on the vote.
