Fredericton International Airport maintenance and emergency crew workers have been on strike since mid-February. (CBC)

An eight-month strike at the Fredericton International Airport is over after the airport authority and the union reached a return-to-work deal.

The airport authority and the union, which represents 25 support and maintenance staff, have reached a return-to-work agreement while they continue to negotiate a contract, according to a joint statement released on Wednesday.

Both parties will work with a federal mediator on "the few outstanding issues" and then submit any unresolved issues to arbitration, the statement said.

Security screeners could still strike

Meanwhile, about 800 airport security screeners across Atlantic Canada could be going on strike on Nov. 1.

The screeners, who pass luggage through X-ray machines and scan passengers with metal detecting wands, voted to strike almost unanimously on Oct. 5 after conciliation talks broke down, according to the United Steelworkers Union.

Their collective agreement expires at the end of October 2012.

'We believe that working with the union, we have ended up with a better, more efficient organization that will serve all of us better as we move into the future.'—Fredericton International Airport CEO David Innes

The 25 support and maintenance staff at the Fredericton airport walked off the job on Feb. 13.

The employees, who are members of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees Local 60601 and are being represented by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, are expected to be back at work on Thursday.

"It was unfortunate that the strike dragged on as long as it did, but there were a lot of issues that needed to be resolved," said David Innes, the airport's chief executive officer.

"We believe that working with the union, we have ended up with a better, more efficient organization that will serve all of us better as we move into the future," he said.

The employees have been without a contract for more than three years.

Union officials have said they want a contract similar to what is being offered at other airports in the Maritimes and for alleged workplace bullying and harassment to end.

Managerial employees took over maintenance duties at the airport during the strike.