Current:Home > StocksAir Canada urges government to intervene as labor dispute with pilots escalates-Angel Dreamer Wealth Society D1 Reviews & Insights
Air Canada urges government to intervene as labor dispute with pilots escalates
View Date:2024-12-23 16:26:35
OTTAWA, Ontario (AP) — Canada’s largest airline and business leaders on Thursday urged the federal government to intervene in labor talks with its pilots in hopes of avoiding a shutdown, but the labor minister said the two sides should negotiate a deal.
Air Canada spokesman Christophe Hennebelle said that the airline is committed to negotiations, but it faces wage demands from the Air Line Pilots Association it can’t meet.
“The issue is that we are faced with unreasonable wage demands that ALPA refuses to moderate,” he said.
The union representing 5,200 pilots says Air Canada continues to post record profits while expecting pilots to accept below-market compensation.
The airline and its pilots have been in contract talks for more than a year. The pilots want to be paid wages competitive with their U.S. counterparts.
The two sides will be in a position starting Sunday to issue a 72-hour notice of a strike or lockout. The airline has said the notice would trigger its three-day wind down plan and start the clock on a full work stoppage as early as Sept. 18.
Hennebelle said the airline isn’t asking for immediate intervention from the government, but that it should be prepared to help avoid major disruptions from a shutdown of an airline that carries more than 110,000 passengers a day.
“The government should be ready to step in and make sure that we are not entering into that disruption for the benefit of Canadians,” he said.
Numerous business groups convened in Ottawa on Thursday to call for action — including binding arbitration — to avoid the economic disruptions a shutdown of the airline would cause.
Arbitration “can help bring the parties to a successful resolution and avoid all the potential impacts we’re here to talk about today,” Candace Laing, president of the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, told a news conference.
Goldy Hyder, chief executive of the Business Council of Canada, said in a statement Canada can’t afford another major disruption to its transportation network.
“A labor disruption at Air Canada would ripple through our economy,” Hyder said in a statement.
Federal Labor Minister Steven MacKinnon told a news conference Wednesday night the two sides should reach a deal.
“There’s no reason for these parties not to be able to achieve a collective agreement,” he said.
“These parties should be under no ambiguity as to what my message is to them today. Knuckle down, get a deal.”
In August, the Canadian government asked the country’s industrial relations board to issue a back-to-work order to end a railway shutdown.
“There are significant differences between those two situations and leave it at that,” MacKinnon said.
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh said Thursday his party would not support efforts to force pilots back to work.
“If there’s any bills being proposed on back to work legislation, we’re going to oppose that,” he said.
veryGood! (2931)
Related
- Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details to Meri Why She Can't Trust Ex Kody and His Sole Wife Robyn
- Alabama man declared 'mentally ill' faces execution by method witnesses called 'horrific'
- Alabama Jailer pleads guilty in case of incarcerated man who froze to death
- Another Outer Banks home collapses into North Carolina ocean, the 3rd to fall since Friday
- Charles Hanover: Caution, Bitcoin May Be Entering a Downward Trend!
- A Missouri man has been executed for a 1998 murder. Was he guilty or innocent?
- US public schools banned over 10K books during 2023-2024 academic year, report says
- Sister Wives' Janelle Brown Details Bittersweet Memories of Late Son Garrison Brown
- Philadelphia mass transit users face fare hikes of more than 20% and possible service cuts
- Woman sentenced to 18 years for plotting with neo-Nazi leader to attack Baltimore’s power grid
Ranking
- Roster limits in college small sports put athletes on chopping block while coaches look for answers
- New York court is set to hear Donald Trump’s appeal of his $489 million civil fraud verdict
- Bridgerton Ball in Detroit Compared to Willy's Chocolate Experience Over Scam Fan Event
- The University of Hawaii is about to get hundreds of millions of dollars to do military research
- 13 Skincare Gifts Under $50 That Are Actually Worth It
- California Gov. Gavin Newsom signs laws to curb oil and gas pollution near neighborhoods
- Harley-Davidson recalls over 41,000 motorcycles: See affected models
- Mega Millions winning numbers for September 24 drawing; jackpot at $62 million
Recommendation
-
Kansas basketball vs Michigan State live score updates, highlights, how to watch Champions Classic
-
Travis James Mullis executed in Texas for murder of his 3-month-old son Alijah: 'I'm ready'
-
The Lainey Wilson x Wrangler Collab Delivers Grit, Grace & Iconic Country Vibes - Shop the Collection Now
-
These women spoke out about Diddy years ago. Why didn't we listen?
-
Princess Kate to host annual Christmas carol service following cancer treatment
-
Chicago’s Latino Neighborhoods Have Less Access to Parks, But Residents Are Working to Change That
-
NFL Week 3 overreactions: Commanders are back, Vikings Super Bowl bound
-
Rapper Fatman Scoop died of heart disease, medical examiner says