Wheeling and Dealing: IR Council members settle some, arbitrate another

We've had a couple of settlements reached this week that I thought I'd draw your attention to.

First off, Bell Canada has settled its pay equity dispute with the CEP. According to the Globe and Mail and the CBC, the deal covers 5,000 mostly female workers and totals $100-million. The complaint was originally filed in the early 1990s, and has traveled as high as the Supreme Court in its journey to resolution.

Second, NAV Canada has reached a tentative agreement with CAW-represented flight service specialists. The CAW is quite pleased with the deal--it includes a 3% wage increase in each year of the contract. That's not the only reason the union is happy, however: the deal marks the first time that NAV-Canada and any of its unions have reached an agreement prior to the expiry of the current agreement.

Finally, Air Canada is in wage-reopener negotiations with its bargaining agents. These reopeners are part of the long-term agreements that the air carrier signed with its unions during the restructuring process. No strike or lockout is permitted in the course of these negotiations, so if the parties cannot agree on an increase the dispute can go to arbitration.

And it appears that arbitration is where Air Canada is headed, at least with two of its unions: the IAMAW and CAW are both saying it's time for their members to get a larger piece of the pie. The employer, faced with a spike in oil prices, is arguing for temperance.

Would anyone from these employers like to comment on the deals they reached? Feel free to use the comments section to provide IR Council members your own view of negotiations.