Air Canada, CAW reach 3-year contract for customer service and sales agents

Air Canada has reached a three-year tentative contract with the Canadian Auto Workers union for customer service and sales agents, the airline says.

The agreement must still be ratified by the approximately 5,000 members of the Canadian Auto Workers union.

The airline says the deal includes a plan for its employees now working in Aeroplan contact centres to transition to Aeroplan or remain at Air Canada.

Similarly, affected Air Canada employees may also be able to request a transfer to Aeroplan.

Air Canada says further details of the agreement will not be released until after the ratification vote.

A date for the vote was not announced.

"The CAW is the first Canadian union to reach a tentative agreement in a year when all of Air Canada's labour contracts are up for renewal," Air Canada president and CEO Montie Brewer said in a statement.

In December, Air Canada finalized a three-year agreement with its 650-member, U.S.-based customer service staff represented by the Teamsters.