Prime Minister Stephen Harper weighed in Friday on the two ongoing labour disputes involving the country's largest airline, saying he believes the Canadian public expects government to step in to avoid a shutdown of Air Canada.
During an appearance in Toronto, Harper said the circumstances surrounding the Air Canada situation — it was set to lock out its pilots as of Monday and was facing strike action the same day by its mechanics and ground crew — required government action.
"Air Canada came to us during the . . . global (economic) crisis, and asked specifically for government assistance in a number of areas because of the dangers shutting down the airline would represent to the Canadian economy," Harper said. "I'll be darned if we will now sit by and let the airline shut itself down.
"Under these circumstances at the present time, this is not what the economy needs and it is certainly not what the travelling public needs at this time of year. As much as there's a side of me that doesn't like to do this, I think these actions are essential to keep the airline flying and to make sure the two parties find some way through mediation arbitration of resolving these disputes without having impacts on the Canadian public.
Harper went on to say that his main concern is not of management or labour, but of the Canadian public, "and I think the broader Canadian public overwhelmingly expects the government to act."
On Thursday, Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt stepped in to prevent a labour disruption at Air Canada over the busy March break by referring its dispute with the unions representing its pilots and machinists to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).
"Given our fragile economy, we've said before, a work stoppage is unacceptable," she told reporters in Ottawa.
Raitt said she would ask the CIRB to determine whether an airline such as Air Canada could be considered an essential service. She has used similar means in the past to head off a work stoppage at the Port of Montreal, at Marine Atlantic and at Air Canada last October to avert a strike by flight attendants.
The decision effectively puts all strike action and lockouts on hold; no work stoppage can go forward while the disputes are being reviewed by the board.
Earlier Thursday, Air Canada served notice that it would lock out its 3,000 pilots on Monday, the same day another union — which represents thousands of ground crew and mechanics at the airline — is set to strike.
The airline made its most recent offer Wednesday, which was less than a month after Raitt offered both sides a new mediator and a six-month process to help them settle contract negotiations — a gesture that was welcomed by the airline and union at the time.
On Friday, Air Canada spokesman Peter Fitzpatrick said in an email that "the lines of communication are open, so we will have to see what transpires, but most certainly, at the end of the day, a negotiated settlement is always preferable."
The union, however, cast doubt on the intentions of the airline in terms of collective bargaining, with union spokesman Paul Howard saying: "the corporation's response to our vote was to lock out the pilots, not offer further negotiations."
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