Business groups from across the country have banded together to get the message across to the federal government that it needs to step in to ensure there is no strike or lockout at Air Canada.
President and CEO of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, Candace Laing, says transportation is regulated by the federal government because it is a critical sector and when services are interrupted, there is a profound, disproportionate impact across the country. “This isn’t just about air travel and immediate economic losses. It’s about the business community’s ability to serve Canadians, whether that’s putting food on shelves, supporting the delivery of medical services, transporting materials from manufacturers, and preserving jobs.”
Goldy Hyder, President and CEO of the Business Council of Canada, states that no one wins in a strike or lockout, and a labour disruption causes a lot of strife for a lot of people. He suggests Canada’s economy is a fragile one and we can’t risk making things work when a one day strike would take a full week to recover, pointing to the two recent simultaneous rail work stoppages. Hyder says disruptions send a message internationally that Canada is no longer reliable. He understands that negotiations are best done at the bargaining table and hopes an agreement can be reached, but he adds that governments are elected to look after the greater good, and Canadians cannot afford another disruption.
If there is no negotiation agreement by Sunday, a 72-hour strike or lockout notice could be issued. Dan Kelly, President and CEO of the Canadian Federation of Independent Businesses, says arbitration doesn’t mean the federal government is taking sides. “Arbitration is not a cake walk for an employer, where a neutral arbitrator is appointed to try to make a deal. It’s not that easy when that happens and there’s lots of risks still for the employer, so it’s not the federal government stepping on the scale one way or the other. It is really, to try to head off a major economic challenge for the country.” Kelly says, “The federal government cannot allow labour disputes to repeatedly paralyze major transportation systems.”
Prime Minister Pierre Trudeau stated at a morning news conference that his government is putting pressure on both parties to settle outstanding issues, like wages.
