Canadian North strike deadline nears

Ticket agents and cargo staff at Canadian North are in a legal strike position.

They could strike if a settlement is not reached next week at a meeting between the union representing the workers and the airline.

Affected locations could include Iqaluit, Rankin Inlet, Cambridge Bay, Yellowknife, Norman Wells, Inuvik, Calgary, Edmonton, Nanaimo, Kamloops, Kelowna and Vancouver.

The union hopes a strike can be averted. "We've always tabled reasonable proposals and being a progressive union we want to work with Canadian North so that it maintains its market share. Our concern which has led to this strike mandate is that we believe that the company has not been reasonable," said Bruce Snow of UNIFOR.

"We believe if the company were to modify it's position and meet us halfway, we would be successful in reaching a collective agreement next week."

The strike vote took place in mid-August, but the existing contract expired last December. There are about 160 members in the bargaining unit. Federal mediators are also expected to be involved. The two sides are trying to hammer out a three-year deal.

The outstanding issues revolve around northern living allowances and vacation times.

The airline did not immediately respond to a request for comment on this story by CBC News.