The showdown between Air Canada and its pilots, who
are threatening to strike if a fair wage deal is not passed, has taken an
interesting turn.
The airline wants the
Canadian federal government to step in.
The pilots say thanks but no thanks.
"The federal government should be prepared to
intervene if talks fail before any travel disruption starts," Air Canada
CEO Michael Rousseau said in a statement.
Not so fast, says Charlene Hudy of the Air Line Pilots
Association.
"We do not want to see any government
interference in our collective bargaining...it really has the effect of
tipping the power balance in favor of the employer," she said.
A strike could happen as soon as Wednesday, September 18. It is estimated that Air Canada and its subsidiary
airlines operate more than 650 flights per day involving more than 100,000
passengers.
Canada’s Federal Labor Minister, Steven MacKinnon, last
month intervened in a work stoppage involving Canada’s two largest
railway companies and the outcome was said to be in favor of management. Nonetheless,
MacKinnon will still meet with Air Canada and the union representing the pilots.
There are more than 5,000 pilots.
Air Canada said it
has a contingency plan in case of a strike.
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