Federal Labour Minister plans to stop Air Canada strike, lockout

OTTAWA, Ont. – Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt announced Thursday she plans to block any planned work stoppage at Air Canada before it begins, after both a strike and a lockout set for Monday just after 12 a.m. threatened to disrupt passengers travelling over the March Break.

Air Canada set a Monday deadline to lock out its pilots after tabling what it called a “best and final” contract offer, while another work stoppage would have involved the airline’s largest union representing its ground crew, baggage handlers and mechanics.

“Our government’s concerned that the work stoppages are going to have an effect both on our national economy and of course on the Canadian travelling public”, said Raitt. “We all know that it’s March Break, especially in Quebec and Ontario, and the following week after in British Columbia.”

Both disputes have now been referred to the Industrial Relations Board, meaning both the unions and the airline must refrain from any sort of job action while the issues are being discussed.

Raitt says the board will “take a look at the case and the facts of the two cases to determine whether work stoppage at Air Canada is going to have an effect on the health and safety of Canadians at large.”

However, the NDP claims the federal government is once again siding with the private industry, using any tool it can to attack the workers and stop them from starting the job action they have a right to take. The federal government, meanwhile, continues to urge both sides to head back to the bargaining table to reach their own deal.

Earlier Thursday, Air Canada said it needed to bring closure to what it called a climate of labour uncertainty. However, the union said the deal was almost identical to the one it had already rejected – with a few minor amendments – and accused the airline of negotiating out of bad faith. The Pilots Association said it would still hold a vote on the offer but advised its members to reject it.

Raitt watched both negotiations and had already considered back to work legislation for the union representing ground crews and mechanics, but did not take action until Thursday afternoon. In the past, she has moved swiftly to intervene in threatened work stoppages at the country’s largest airline.

Meanwhile, WestJet announced it was prepared to accommodate Air Canada passengers in the event of a strike or lockout. The airline said it would add extra flights in domestic and trans-border markets as the situation unfolded, based on available aircraft and crew.

At Pearson Airport in Toronto, there was a collective sigh of relief Thursday afternoon, after passengeds learned they would not have to worry about finding a way home after March Break ends.

Mark, who is travelling to the UK with a high school rugby team, told 680News they had a slush fund set up just in case of a strike or lockout but he is glad they did not have to use it.

“We’re happy now. Less stress,” he said.

The mother of one of the rugby players said it is a relief.

“I know they’re striking for a reason but who really suffers is the travellers and the kids. I know that’s their bargaining chip. I’m just glad they’re not doing it,” she told 680News.

One man, who is flying out to Newfoundland, told 680News he is worried about the possibility of a strike in the weeks after March break.

“I mean I do work and I have to get back some time within the next couple of weeks… so I hope they don’t,” he explained.

Some people at Pearson suggested that work stoppages in the airline industry should never be allowed because it is too inconvenient and too costly for passengers.