Strike involving one of Canada’s largest airlines has been averted

A possible strike involving one of the country’s largest airlines has been averted.

The federal government has directed WestJet and the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association into binding arbitration to resolve their dispute.

Labour Minister Seamus O’Regan said in a social media post late Thursday afternoon he is invoking his authority under the Canada Labour Code to resolve the impasse between the two sides as the clock ticked down toward a Friday evening deadline.

The Calgary-based airline and the union had been at odds over a new collective bargaining deal, with the tone of statements in recent days becoming increasingly aggressive.

Union members voted overwhelmingly to reject a tentative deal earlier this month and opposed WestJet’s request for intervention by the country’s labour tribunal.

A strike by mechanics with the Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association could otherwise have disrupted flights for hundreds of thousands of travellers over the Canada Day long weekend.

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