Air Canada Asks Government to Force Arbitration & Prevent Strike

Air Canada is asking the federal government to direct arbitration in order to prevent the carrier’s 5,200 pilots from going on strike next week.

Air Canada’s pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), will be in a strike position as early Sept. 18, unless the bargaining parties are able to reach a deal. As the deadline approaches, Air Canada is preparing to shudown gradually over three days, starting on Sept. 15.

The pilots have been without a contract for a year, and the last contract was signed more than a decade ago. The two parties have reached a standstill on negotiations and Air Canada is asking the government for help.

“With talks nearing an impasse and time for negotiation running out, the travel plans of hundreds of thousands of Canadians are hanging in the balance,” said Michael Rousseau, president and chief executive of Air Canada. “While we remain committed to reaching a negotiated settlement with ALPA, the federal government should be prepared to intervene if talks fail before any travel disruption starts.”

Air Canada said that the sheer number of travellers and cargo that would be disrupted by a strike calls for federal intervention.

“The Government of Canada should prepare in the event talks conclude without an agreement to use its powers to direct binding interest arbitration under Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code before a work stoppage becomes effective,” the carrier said.

The Association of Canadian Travel Agencies and Travel Advisors (ACTA) is also urging for federal intervention, citing the health of the Canadian travel industry as a main concern.

In a statement, Wendy Paradis, ACTA president, told TMR, “We’re calling for immediate and prioritized federal intervention to facilitate a swift resolution between Air Canada and its pilots. The government must recognize the far-reaching implications of this dispute and treat it with the urgency it deserves.”

ALPA blames the airline, saying Air Canada needs to “get serious about negotiating a contract” with its pilots.

“Rather than taking shots at the professional pilots who safely transport their passengers day in and day out, Air Canada should stop threatening to disrupt air travel and come to the bargaining table with serious proposals to keep the flagship Canadian carrier competitive in the global aviation market. Air Canada continues to post record profits – and reward its executives handsomely – while expecting pilots to accept below-market compensation. Now, because of their corporate greed, Air Canada is preparing to disrupt flights and inconvenience passengers,” said First Officer Charlene Hudy, Air Canada Master Executive Council (MEC) Chair, ALPA.

The Canadian Association of Tour Operators (CATO) joined the call for federal intervention, saying in a statement:

“We urge the federal government to consider the importance of timely arbitration to ensure that
travelers can continue to plan and enjoy their journeys without uncertainty. The tourism sector is a vital
component of Canada’s economy, and it is essential that we work together to maintain its integrity and
support the needs of all stakeholders involved.”