Despite moves by government, work stoppage still possible at Air Canada

Just when air travellers thought they could rest easy, we’ve learned that Air Canada could still be facing a potential work stoppage sooner rather than later.

The federal government has referred two cases to the industrial relations board in order to block a potential lockout or strike that had been scheduled to begin Monday morning.

It has now become clear that the board may deal with the investigations quickly, meaning there is a good chance the investigations could be wrapped up sometime this week.

Once the investigation by the industrial relations board is finished it opens up the opportunity for the union or company to follow through with their threats of job action.

As the board examines the situation to determine whether a work stoppage poses a health and safety risk to the country, the government has moved quickly to prepare back-to-work legislation.

Dr. Kellie Leitch, the parliamentary secretary to labour, told 680News the government has back-to-work legislation on the order paper that can be tabled within days.

“We are not going to sit by and let the airline shut itself down, this is not what the economy needs and it’s certainly not what the travelling public needs, especially around this time of March Break,” Leitch said.

The NDP has already said it will oppose the legislation because this government has no respect for workers’ rights.

“You have a right to have a strike, when you are in negotiation you have to have that kind of power, one way or the other, they are in the private sector, it’s not an essential service,” said the NDP’s Yvon Godin.

The government disputes this, saying it is necessary to act because the economy could take a major hit if our largest airline shuts down, while travel plans for thousands of Canadian families would be up in the air.