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Flight attendants at Air Transat have filed for federal conciliation in their contract talks, which have broken down over wages and exhausting working conditions.

P0065006fple think about the exotic side of the work, but the other side of the coin is long flying hours, grueling turnarounds on international flights and concern for the safety of passengers and crew, 00730061id Michael Butler, president of the union for 1,000 flight attendants, who are part of the Airline Division of Canadian Union of Public Employees. Air Transat is based in Montreal, Toronto and Vancouver.

O00750072 requests at the bargaining table are to ensure a better quality of life for our members, but also to ensure a better quality of service by a well-rested crew. 000a003cp>There have been 19 contract bargaining meetings between the union and management. The union wants Air Transat to provide higher flight attendant/passenger ratios, crew changes at overseas destinations and per diems abroad that reflect the local economy. A00730020it is our members must operate overseas flights, like the Azores, but on a turnaround which combines long time frames with accumulated fatigue, 00730061ys Butler. Per diems that do not reflect the cost of living in Paris, Hawaii or Brussels and leave the flight attendants subsidizing expenses from their own pockets, he adds.

Flight attendants have contributed to Air Transat’s reputation in the charter industry, says the union. The Airline knows, says Butler, that i00740073 image rests particularly on the quality and professionalism of cabin personnel, personnel who should be treated with equity. 000a003cp>

For further information, please call: Michael Butler (514) 381-7537 or Louis Cauchy (514) 384-9681, ext. 270