Air Canada is calling on the federal government to be prepared to intervene in labour negotiations with pilots as time dwindles until a possible closure.
Air Canada spokesman Christophe Hembel said the airline is committed to negotiating but is faced with “unfair wage demands” from the pilots union and cannot meet them.
After Sunday, both sides can give 72 hours’ notice of a strike or lockout, which the airlines say would trigger a three-day wind-down plan and a full-scale strike starting as early as September 18.
Hennebel said Ottawa should be prepared to step in to avoid chaos.
While Air Canada continues to make record profits, it has asked its pilots to accept below-market pay, and unions say corporate greed is delaying negotiations.
Federal Labor Minister Stephen McKinnon said Wednesday there was no reason why an agreement couldn’t be reached and both sides should be “fully committed” to getting a deal done.
A number of business groups met in Ottawa on Thursday to call for action, including binding arbitration, to avoid the economic chaos that would result from the airline shutdown.
“Mediation can help bring the parties to a successful resolution and avoid some of the potential repercussions that we’re discussing here today,” Candace Lane, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, said at a press conference.
“Canada cannot afford another major disruption to its transportation network. The labour dispute at Air Canada will have ripples through the economy,” Goldie Hyder, CEO of the Business Council of Canada, said in a media statement.
Air Canada could begin grounding flights as early as Sunday as negotiations continue between the airline and its pilots over a contract dispute. While the two sides are at the negotiating table, they are putting contingency plans in place in case a strike breaks out. CBC’s Chris Glover visited the union’s strike headquarters.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday morning that his party does not support efforts to force pilots back to work.
“We intend to send a clear message again that we oppose interference with workers by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, the Liberal party or any government,” Singh said.
“If a back-to-work bill is proposed, we will oppose it.”
Conservative Leader Pierre Poirierbre said Wednesday that Air Canada should negotiate in good faith with its pilots.
“We will not support preempting those negotiations. We support pilots and their right to fight for a fair deal and good wages.”
