Government orders mediation to avoid WestJet mechanics strike

The federal government on Thursday ordered binding arbitration in the labour dispute between WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association (AMFA) to avert a strike by mechanics on Canada Day that could disrupt hundreds of thousands of travel plans.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan issued a statement Thursday afternoon saying that efforts to reach agreement on the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which he initiated on June 18, had stalled.

“The parties remain far apart today and tensions have only increased since last Tuesday,” he said in a statement.

“As Minister of Labour,” he said, continuing, “I am using my powers under the Canada Labour Code to further the objectives of the Section 80 referral conducted last week and to help the parties reach their first collective agreement. I have directed the CIRB to conduct final, binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective agreement.”

CTV News obtained a memo from the aircraft mechanics union in response to the minister’s binding arbitration order.

“AMFA’s legal counsel and FMCS representatives point out that there is no modern precedent for the Minister’s actions,” it said. “AMFA will comply with the Minister’s order and instructs its members to refrain from any unlawful industrial action.”

When asked for further comment, an AMFA spokesperson said there would be no further information until Friday.

Late Thursday afternoon, WestJet issued a statement confirming it had signed an agreement with AMFA.

“In this context, there will be no strike or lockout,” the airline said in a statement, “and the airline will not cancel any further flights.”

“The government’s actions have protected Canadians’ summer travel plans and we have found a way to resolve this,” said Diederik Pen, President and Chief Operating Officer of the WestJet Group.

“We recognize the significant impact the initial cancellations continue to have on our guests and staff, and we sincerely appreciate their patience and understanding as we resume operations.”

Last minute task

The move was O’Regan’s last-minute move to avoid a potential strike by WestJet aircraft mechanics, which the airline’s CEO said could have disrupted the travel plans of 250,000 passengers over the Canada Day long weekend and cost the airline millions of dollars.

The Calgary-based airline has already started canceling flights. Around 25 flights have been cancelled for Thursday and Friday as AMFA faces possible industrial action. The union is threatening to close the picket lines as early as 5:30 p.m. MDT on Friday.

WestJet’s decision to concentrate its fleet of 180 aircraft already affects around 3,300 customers and is intended to prevent aircraft from being abandoned at distant locations, stranding passengers and crew.

As negotiations over the union’s first collective agreement dragged on in a windowless conference room at a hotel near Toronto’s Pearson Airport, the tone of statements from both sides grew increasingly aggressive late Wednesday and early Thursday.

The mechanics union, which represents about 680 workers – the majority of whom are aircraft maintenance technicians (AMEs) who inspect every active aircraft daily – accused WestJet of “confrontational politics” and “false accusations.”

On Wednesday, it was said that the airline had asked the government to cancel its strike notice without informing its negotiators.

“In its statement today, WestJet claims that a strike at AME would ‘put the company and travelers at risk at a critical time,'” the union’s bargaining committee said in a press release on Wednesday.

“It is hard to imagine a more inflammatory or offensive comment.”

‘Catastrophic’

WestJet described the impact of a possible strike as “catastrophic.”

“With the July long weekend fast approaching, it is especially devastating that the strike notice we received from AMFA is forcing us to cancel flights and park aircraft – for the second time in just over a week,” said Diederik Pen, president of WestJet Airlines, in a press release.

He described the decision to cancel flights as “painful” and pointed to the consequences for customers.

The aircraft mechanics first announced a 72-hour strike on June 17, which forced WestJet to cancel nearly 50 flights last week before both sides agreed to resume negotiations. The second strike followed on Tuesday.

Union members overwhelmingly rejected a tentative deal earlier this month and resisted WestJet’s request for intervention by the country’s labor court.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has said it needs more time and proposals from all parties before it can decide whether to reach a collective agreement through binding arbitration, as WestJet proposed last week.

“It’s a bit stressful”

For travellers at Calgary International Airport, the uncertainty of the situation meant even more stress than a trip to the airport already means for many people.

Claude Slade just finished a three-week work stint in Victoria and said his return trip to Newfoundland has been delayed, impacting some family plans.

“It’s my wife’s 50th birthday today,” said Slade. “Because of this situation, we’re going to lose another day of our turnaround time.”

“We are playing in the Canada Cup and some of our teammates had their flights cancelled on the way there,” said Adyson Switzer from Calgary.

Addyson (in shorts) says that some of her teammates’ flights were canceled and one had to drive to get to the tournament on time. (Photo: Alesia Fieldberg)

The Canada Cup International Softball Championships are scheduled to be held in Surrey, B.C., from June 28 to July 7, but Switzer said a pitcher on her U-17 team couldn’t get another flight in time, so she had to drive.

“Otherwise they won’t get there on time and won’t have enough girls to play with,” Switzer said.

“It’s a bit stressful.”

Many other travelers experienced delays and flight changes that affected their connecting flights.

“I have my entire vacation already planned, so every day that goes by is basically wasted vacation,” said Fred Manaloto of Lethbridge, adding that he has now booked a flight to the Philippines that is two days later than planned.

Fiona McCarney and her husband Damien, who were travelling from Ireland, said two of their WestJet flights last week were changed due to maintenance.

Fiona and Damien are waiting to return to Dublin.

“Our flight was probably in the air for about 25 minutes and we were told we would be returning to Vancouver due to maintenance issues.”

As a result, they missed their flight to Dublin and had to wait two days in Calgary for a new flight.

“We will be back in Dublin tonight, fingers crossed, and hope that WestJet does not let us down this time.”

“They warned us that there might be disruptions due to a mechanics strike, which is making us really nervous.”

With files from The Canadian Press