Tentative agreement reached for First Air flight attendants

After a negotiations blitz that lasted more than 20 hours, CUPE local 4058, which represents First Air flight attendants, reached a tentative agreement with the employer late last night.

The local executive recommends that members endorse the deal. “We are very satisfied with the agreement we have reached.  We have negotiated improved working conditions and secured monetary increases in key areas of the collective agreement,” said CUPE local 4058 President, Sandra Arbuckle.

Details of the agreement will be presented to First Air flight attendants during meetings held at the Yellowknife, Iqaluit and Ottawa bases. They will not be released until then.

“We encourage all our members to attend the meetings,” said Arbuckle.

The ratification vote will be held after the meetings.

The collective agreement expired on December 31, 2015. Negotiations started in November 2015.

CUPE represents 67 flight attendants at First Air. In total, CUPE represents over 10, 000 flight attendants at Air Canada, Air Transat, Calm Air, Canadian North, Canjet, Cathay Pacific, First Air and Sunwing.