West.Jet strike likely averted

Minister forcing airline, union into binding arbitration

- GHADA ALSHARIF

WestJet said in a statement Wednesday that a strike “could disrupt the travel plans of more than 250,000 guests scheduled to travel over the July long weekend.”

A potential strike by WestJet has been averted ahead of the busy Canada Day long weekend.

Federal Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan sent the airline and its mechanics into binding arbitration to resolve their dispute, which is all but certain to postpone the work stoppage.

In a social media post-Thursday afternoon, O’Regan said he was invoking his authority under the Canada Labour Code to resolve the impasse between the two sides as the Friday evening strike deadline approached.

“Strong first agreements set unions and employers on the path of collective bargaining,” O’Regan said in a statement.

“They set a strong foundation to build upon at the bargaining table and bring the parties one step closer to a strong second agreement and an even stronger third agreement — reached at the bargaining table. That’s what we want to see here.”