Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was up to Air Canada and its pilots’ union to find an agreement to avoid disruption to travellers and businesses.
Attending an event in Sainte-Anne-de-Bellevue, Que., on Friday, Trudeau said he would not favour either side, while refusing to say whether he would force pilots back to work.
Air Canada had announced earlier that some of its operations would begin to be affected this Friday by a possible service interruption that is becoming increasingly likely due to a labour dispute between the company and its pilots.
On Thursday, the airline called on the federal government to be prepared to step in to avoid the major disruptions that a service interruption would cause for its more than 110,000 passengers a day.
She said some services such as freight and package holidays would start to be affected on Friday, while a complete shutdown could take place on September 18.
The airline and pilots will be able to give 72 hours’ notice of a strike or lockout starting Sunday. The airline said the notice would trigger its three-day wind-down plan that would lead to a full work stoppage.
Air Canada said the union was inflexible in the face of “unreasonable wage demands.”
The union countered that it is corporate greed that is holding up negotiations, as Air Canada continues to post record profits while expecting pilots to accept below-market pay.
To see in video