The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, on behalf of its member organizations and businesses, has written a letter to the federal Minister of Labour to express concern about the looming possibility of a strike by the Air Line Pilots Association at Air Canada.

The letter states a labour disruption would have wide-reaching impacts on Canadians, the economy, supply chains and Canada’s global reputation. Air Canada carries up to 150,000 passengers each day but the letter states the impact goes far beyond passenger travel, noting that Canada’s cargo network is important for the import and export of critical, time-sensitive goods such as vaccines and medical supplies, agriculture and perishable food products, and parts and machinery for small and medium sized Canadian manufacturers.

The Chamber asks the federal government to take decisive action and if there is no contract agreement, the government “must be prepared to act” to prevent yet another damaging disruption by referring the matter to binding arbitration.