Breathe easy, Canada; there’s no WestJet strike coming on the long weekend.
The CBC reports that strike by WestJet mechanics has been averted after federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan on 27JUN directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose final binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding issues between the airline and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA).
O'Regan said in a statement that he is "using his authorities under the Canada Labour Code" to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective agreeement.
"The parties still remain far apart today, and tensions have only increased since last Tuesday," the statement reads. "It is my firm belief that a strong collective bargaining relationship can be built."
The mechanics union petitioned strongly against binding arbitration, but the government obviously felt it had to avoid what WestJet had described as a “catastrophic” strike.The union said there was no modern precedent for the move, Reuters reports.
But it said the mechanics would comply with the order and direct its members to refrain from any unlawful job action.
WestJet earlier in the day had ordered 25 flights cancelled for 27JUN and 29JUN, cancellations that affected 3,300 pax. It’s not clear if any of those might be restored.
The airline said a strike would have affected some 250,000 pax on the weekend and would’ve cost the company millions of dollars.
WestJet last week cancelled some 40 flights, affecting roughly 6,500 pax, when the airline mechanics union had a strike deadline set for 20JUN. The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) rescinded the strike notice after both sides agreed to return to the bargaining table.
Talks began again this week, but ended quickly. The mechanics union on 26JUN set another strike notice for the evening of 28JUN.
WestJet CEO Alexis Von Hoensbroech has said the airline was offering an industry-leading, 22% wage increase over four years.
The two sides have engaged in a bitter war of words over the past few days, making a settlement seem highly unlikely. But the Trudeau government’s decision makes that a moot issue.
Check your 28JUN Open Jaw brief for more details on the WestJet situation.
