Vancouver Airport Authority (VAA) said Tuesday that Canada's second busiest airport remained open and operational despite a strike notice.

The notice was issued Tuesday morning at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) by a union representing VAA employees. About 300 members of the union will participate in the strike, set to begin on Aug. 30.

VAA has an agreement with the union "that ensures employees in essential roles will continue to work alongside management to keep the airport operating in a safe and efficient manner," media relations officer Alana Lawrence said.

The union claims that VAA wants to create a two-tier wage system by creating a new class of "seasonal" workers.

It also rejects it as unacceptable that YVR is demanding concessions on the one hand but budgeting millions of dollars per year on capital projects on the other.

Lawrence said the airport was scheduled to continue negotiations with the union on Wednesday and Thursday, and remained committed to reaching a settlement that was fair for both sides.

YVR served 17.6 million passengers, facilitated 261,000 takeoffs and landings and handled 227,200 tonnes of cargo in 2012.