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Airport strike talks resuming after long delay

Striking airport workers are seen during a demonstration in late September. They have been working without a contract since 2009.

Negotiations between the authority that runs St. John's airport and its striking workers are expected to resume Tuesday for the first time in more than three months.

About 85 workers who handle maintenance duties and emergency services at the airport have been on strike since Sept. 11 in a dispute that has focused on salaries and contract language, particularly involving job security.

Since the strike started, both sides have exchanged views through the media, but not through formal bargaining.

On Friday, airport authority CEO Keith Collins called on the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, a member of the Public Service Alliance of Canada, to meet them at the bargaining table.

The authority said it made a new offer on Nov. 21, but had not yet received a response.

The union says it feels a responsibility to its members to try to reach a deal.

The last contract expired three years ago. PSAC is angling to achieve a deal for the St. John's workers that would put their wages on par with larger airports.

But the airport authority argued in September that the union was out of line for asking for raises that work out to 58 per cent over four years. The authority said its first proposal worked out to 31 per cent over eight years.

A federal mediator is also expected to take part in the new round of talks.