Local 60615

The bargaining team at Saint John Airport have reached a tentative agreement with the employer which includes the reinstatement of a defined benefit pension plan. The plan presented by the union and accepted by the employer, the CAAT DB plan, was explained in a previous post.

During negotiations, members voted unanimously to drop almost all demands except for the request for a defined benefit pension plan.

“This is a big step towards securing their future,” said Chris Bussey, UCTE’s RVP Atlantic who was part of the bargaining team.

Over time, the defined benefit pension plan was eliminated at YSJ and replaced with a defined contribution plan. This meant less responsibility for the employer however it also meant less security for when members retire.

“The union researched a plan that works for both the employer and our members. At the end of the day, it is a win for everyone”, said Bussey.

The tentative agreement also includes wage increases and would set the agreement for 5 years.

Members will vote on the tentative on February 7^th, 2020.

Thank you to the bargaining team of Andrew Hunter, Nick Oram, and Troy Milton for all their hard work