Air Canada is promising its customers that its services won't be interrupted if hundreds of customer service and call centre employees walk the picket lines next month.

In a near-unanimous vote this week, the workers gave their union, Canadian Auto Workers Local 2002, the go-ahead for a strike if a new contract isn't hammered out by a June 13 deadline.

The union represents 3,800 customer service and sales employees who work in major airports and call centres.

They were 98 per cent in favour of the strike mandate as they seek fair wages, job security and the continuation of their pension plan, the union said.

"With this strong strike vote, our members have clearly demonstrated that they've had enough of being taken for granted by Air Canada," CAW president Ken Lewenza, said in a statement. "This company cannot lecture workers about their role in making the airline more efficient while doling out major bonuses to corporate executives, including extremely rich retirement packages."

In the event of a strike, people can "continue to book Air Canada flights with confidence" because a contingency plan will be in place to "minimize impact on customers," the airline said in a news release.

Lewenza said the employees don't want to cause interruptions.

The workers have been without a contract since Feb. 28. Negotiations have been ongoing with the help of a federal conciliator since March 24. Talks are set to resume Tuesday.

Air Canada officials are confident that there is enough time for the airline and union to reach an agreement before the deadline, the news release stated.

The strike mandate strengthens the employees' bargaining table demands for a fair and equitable collective agreement, the union said.

Union members plan to hold rallies at airports across Canada as negotiations continue.

Pilots reject tentative agreement

Air Canada is also trying to reach a new contract with its pilots, who rejected a tentative agreement this week.

The Air Canada Pilots Association and the airline are going back to the bargaining table after 67 per cent of the votes cast by union members went against the agreement.

The pilots went against the advice of their union's negotiating committee and Air Canada executives, who urged them to accept the contract.

They have been without a contract since March 31.