About two dozen unionized workers at the Saint John Airport have a new collective agreement.
The deal between the airport and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees Local 60615 was signed last week after nearly a year of negotiations.
The five-year agreement will be in effect retroactively from Jan. 1, 2019, until Dec. 31, 2023.
According to the airport, it ensures unionized employees receive a new pension plan and wage increases over the next five years.
“I’m pleased that we have worked with the union to reach a fair agreement and I’d like to thank the negotiation teams on both sides for their diligent and respectful efforts during these negotiations,” said Derrick Stanford, president and CEO of the airport, in a statement.
Workers voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action in late 2019 and were prepared to walk off the job in order to get a deal.
“If strike action is what’s needed to put pressure on to get that deal, then that’s where we’re going to have to go,” said Chris Bussey, Atlantic regional vice-president for the UCTE, in November.
But after a tentative agreement was reached between the sides in January, Bussey said he thought they were able to get what members were asking for.
The UCTE represents about 25 workers at the airport who are responsible for runway and building maintenance, firefighting, and administration.
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