New Brunswick’s premier is calling for binding arbitration ahead of a potential Air Canada labour disruption.
Blaine Higgs made the comments in a letter sent to the prime minister this week and posted to social media on Thursday.
“One cannot overstate the importance that Canadians place on reliable service by the national passenger airline,” wrote Higgs.
“While we all support and respect the collective bargaining process, the Government of Canada has the responsibility to protect the public interest should the parties in this dispute be unable to reach a settlement at the bargaining table.”
More than 5,200 pilots represented by the Air Line Pilots Association could strike or be locked out as early as next Wednesday.
The potential job action comes less than a month after job action at CN Rail and CPKC, the country’s two largest rail lines.
Ottawa waited until labour action began before moving to impose binding arbitration — something Higgs said they cannot do this time.
“This delay caused serious harm to the Canadian economy. This should not be allowed to happen again,” he wrote.
Three of New Brunswick’s chambers of commerce have also written to Ottawa expressing concern about possible job action.
This is my letter to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on an imminent strike with ALPA that includes Air Canada pilots. pic.twitter.com/ITiDlGfDk1
— Blaine Higgs (@premierbhiggs) September 12, 2024
