Vancouver airport workers reach agreement, strike avoided

Officials representing 855 workers who provide cleaning and baggage services at Vancouver International Airport say an agreement has been reached with the employer,SwissportInternational Ltd.

"There will be no strike, operations will be as usual," said Bill Trbovich,International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)director of communications in an email to CBC News as bargaining concluded Saturday evening.

Details of the deal have not been released.

The SwissportInternational Ltd.workers, who are members of IAM, Transport DistrictLodge 140 had rejected, on Monday, atentative agreement reached earlier this month.

The same day, the union voted 71 per cent in favour of a strike.

• Vancouver airport workers issue strike deadline, say flights may be affected

The union said the workers had been without a contract for more than a year.

The workers providebaggage and grooming services and managethe airport's baggage belt services. The employees servicemore than 20 airlines that use the airport, according to the union.

They do notprovide baggage handling for Air Canada, American Airlines, Delta Airlines, United Airlines, US Airways, Swift Air, Central Mountain Air, Air North andAeromexico.