Thunder Bay, Ont. – February 27, 2018 – UFCW Canada Local 175 members working at Bearskin Airlines have achieved a new collective agreement that provides improvements to wages, contract language, and more.

Headquartered in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Bearskin Airlines is a regional airline that connects passengers in Northern Ontario and Manitoba.

As part of the new three-year contract, members will receive wage increases of 1.5 percent in years one and two of the agreement, and 1 percent in year three. In addition, top rates will improve by 2 percent in years one and two, and 2.5 percent in the third year of the contract.

Sick day provisions have also been improved, as members can now bank up to 80 hours that can be paid out upon resignation.

As well, the employer will pay a shoe allowance of $50 in year one, $55 in year two, and $60 in year three of the agreement. The training premium has also improved to $1.50 per hour, up from 50 cents per hour.

The Union Negotiating Committee included UFCW Canada Local 175 members Emilia Honke and Anna Maria Santorelli, as well as UFCW 175 Union Representative Tracy Stubbs and Director Kelly Tosato.