MONTREAL, June 11 (UPI) -- Air Canada said Saturday it will try to keep operations running as close to normal as possible should customer service and sales staff go on strike.
The union representing the Air Canada workers has given the airline a 72-hour strike notice, the Canadian Broadcasting Corp reported.
Air Canada said in a statement on its Web site it will continue to operate its regular schedule and "existing bookings will be honored and future bookings welcomed" should there be a walkout by the 3,800 employees next week. The strike could happen as early as 12:01 a.m. Tuesday.
Airline spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick and Bob Chernecki of the Canadian Auto Workers union both said negotiations are ongoing with a desire by both sides to avoid a strike.
"We're working around the clock to try to find a solution. We don't want to lose the Air Canada customer," Chernecki said.
Pensions are a key sticking point to a settlement, with the union unwilling to go along with a defined-contribution plan for new hires. Current employees have a defined-benefit plan.
