Air Canada reaches tentative deal

It’s business as usual at Air Canada Friday. The airline and the Canadian Auto Workers Union have reached a tentative deal. That means picket lines are down as customer service and sales staff return to work.

The agreement was made three days into a walkout. The strike meant some delay for travelers, but created no major issues. 

Tentatively, the pact holds a defined-benefit pension plan for current workers. The issue of what pension plan future employees would receive will have to go to arbitration as an agreement could not be met. Air Canada wants new hires to be in a defined-contribution plan instead, which would save them money.

None of the modifications will go into effect until 2013.