Air Canada deal in works
Arbitrators to oversee a final-offer selection process
TORONTO — Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt has appointed two arbitrators to Air Canada’s labour talks with the unions representing its pilots and its mechanics and ground crews.
Raitt has assigned Douglas Stanley as the arbitrator to the talks with the Air Canada Pilots Association, and Michel Picher to the airline’s talks with IAMAW, which represents 8,600 ground crew and mechanics at the carrier. Both arbitrators were put forth by the airline and the unions as potential candidates before being selected, Raitt said.
“The appointment of an arbitrator is a key step in resolving this labour dispute,” she said in a statement.
The arbitrators are being appointed to oversee a final-offer selection process that was mandated as part of a back-towork bill in March by the federal government to stave off a labour disruption at the airline.
“Our government is focused on protecting the economy and jobs, and that is why we took decisive action to protect Canadians,” Raitt said.
But before the final offer process proceeds, both IAMAW and ACPA have agreed to commence a 10-day bargaining period once the arbitrators were appointed in an attempt to strike a deal. Under the final-offer arbitration process, both sides in the disputes will put forth their final offer and either the airline’s or the union’s position will be selected in its entirety.
Picher has nearly 30 years’ experience as a full-time mediator and arbitrator. He has also served as vice-chairman of the Ontario Labour Relations board.
Stanley has been practising law since 1974. He is also the former deputy labour minister and former CEO of Worksafe New Brunswick.