Air Canada customer agents serve strike notice (Reuters)

VANCOUVER (Reuters) – The union representing customer service and ticket sales agents at Air Canada Inc on Friday gave the airline 72 hours notice of a strike after negotiators failed to agree on a new labor contract.

The Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) union, which represents 3,800 employees at airports and call centers across Canada, said its members will walk off the job at 11:59 pm EDT on Monday unless an agreement can be reached before then.

"After 10 weeks of negotiations, there are still a number of important issues halting progress at the bargaining table, such as demands for dramatic cuts to the pension plan...," the CAW said in a statement.

Air Canada, the country's biggest carrier, said in a statement it continues to work toward a deal with the union but has a contingency plan to continue "operating a full schedule" and minimize disruptions for customers.

Air Canada is in labor talks with five of its unions, including its pilots, flight attendants and maintenance workers, after their contracts expired earlier this year.

(Reporting by Nicole Mordant; Editing by Paul Simao)

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2 border agents killed in collision with train

Border Patrol Agents Hector Clark, left, and Eduardo Rojas Jr. died Thursday just south of Gila Bend, Arizona.NEW: The Border Patrol says the agents' vehicle was struck by a 90-car freight trainNEW: Both agents had been working with the Border Patrol for about a decadeHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says authorities are investigatingThe agents were assisting in the apprehension of suspected illegal immigrants

(CNN) -- Two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were assisting in the apprehension of suspected illegal immigrants were killed Thursday when their vehicle was struck by a train, officials said.

They were driving an unmarked Border Patrol vehicle when it was struck by a 90-car freight train at a crossing about nine miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona, the agency said.

Authorities were investigating what caused the accident that killed Border Patrol Agents Eduardo Rojas Jr. and Hector Clark, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement.

The vehicle, an SUV, was struck by the train at the rail crossing of Paloma Road near exit 106 of Interstate 8.

"This is unfortunate not just for me, not just for the Yuma Sector, but for the Border Patrol as a whole," Border Patrol spokesman Kenneth Quillin said.

The agents were on duty and were assisting other officers in tracking down a group of people suspected to have entered the country illegally, Quillin said. The agents were trying to position themselves north of where the other agents were, he said.

Both Clark, 39, and Rojas, 35, were lead agents in the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, the agency said.

Rojas, who had been working with the patrol for more than 11 years, is survived by his wife and two children. Clark, who had been working with the patrol for nearly 10 years, also is survived by his wife and two children.

"This tragedy is a reminder to all of us that whether they are facing down a criminal suspect with a weapon, or patrolling the highways and deserts, these law enforcement professionals encounter life-threatening dangers every day," Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said.

Napolitano noted the service of others as she expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

"We also keep in our thoughts and prayers all of those who put their lives at risk every day, at home and abroad, to defend our country. We honor their service and pray for their continued safety," she said.

On Friday, a Mexican man was arraigned in a U.S. federal court for the killing last December of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in Arizona.

CNN's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report.

CNN

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2 border agents killed in collision with train

Border Patrol Agents Hector Clark, left, and Eduardo Rojas Jr. died Thursday just south of Gila Bend, Arizona.NEW: The Border Patrol says the agents' vehicle was struck by a 90-car freight trainNEW: Both agents had been working with the Border Patrol for about a decadeHomeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano says authorities are investigatingThe agents were assisting in the apprehension of suspected illegal immigrants

(CNN) -- Two U.S. Border Patrol agents who were assisting in the apprehension of suspected illegal immigrants were killed Thursday when their vehicle was struck by a train, officials said.

They were driving an unmarked Border Patrol vehicle when it was struck by a 90-car freight train at a crossing about nine miles west of Gila Bend, Arizona, the agency said.

Authorities were investigating what caused the accident that killed Border Patrol Agents Eduardo Rojas Jr. and Hector Clark, Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano said in a statement.

The vehicle, an SUV, was struck by the train at the rail crossing of Paloma Road near exit 106 of Interstate 8.

"This is unfortunate not just for me, not just for the Yuma Sector, but for the Border Patrol as a whole," Border Patrol spokesman Kenneth Quillin said.

The agents were on duty and were assisting other officers in tracking down a group of people suspected to have entered the country illegally, Quillin said. The agents were trying to position themselves north of where the other agents were, he said.

Both Clark, 39, and Rojas, 35, were lead agents in the Border Patrol's Yuma Sector, the agency said.

Rojas, who had been working with the patrol for more than 11 years, is survived by his wife and two children. Clark, who had been working with the patrol for nearly 10 years, also is survived by his wife and two children.

"This tragedy is a reminder to all of us that whether they are facing down a criminal suspect with a weapon, or patrolling the highways and deserts, these law enforcement professionals encounter life-threatening dangers every day," Arizona Attorney General Tom Horne said.

Napolitano noted the service of others as she expressed sympathy for the victims and their families.

"We also keep in our thoughts and prayers all of those who put their lives at risk every day, at home and abroad, to defend our country. We honor their service and pray for their continued safety," she said.

On Friday, a Mexican man was arraigned in a U.S. federal court for the killing last December of Border Patrol Agent Brian Terry in Arizona.

CNN's Mike Ahlers contributed to this report.

CNN

This post was made using the Auto Blogging Software from WebMagnates.org This line will not appear when posts are made after activating the software to full version.