First tentative agreement with a Canadian union in 2009 negotiations

    MONTREAL, Jan. 14 /CNW Telbec/ - Air Canada announced today that it has
reached a tentative, three-year labour contract with the Canadian Auto Workers
(CAW) Local 2002.
    The agreement is subject to a ratification vote by union members and
covers approximately 5,000 CAW represented Customer Service and Sales Agents
employed by Air Canada. The proposed agreement also provides for a detailed
plan for Air Canada employees currently working in the 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.
Further details of the agreement will not be released pending ratification.
    "This is a very important development because 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. I would like to express my
appreciation for the professionalism of both the union and management
bargaining teams, who I know devoted countless hours in tough negotiations
over some difficult issues in the current environment," said Montie Brewer,
President and Chief Executive Officer of Air Canada.
    In December 2008, Air Canada announced it had finalized a three-year
agreement with its 650-member, U.S.-based customer service workforce
represented by the International Brotherhood of Teamsters.
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