Air Canada's 8,600 baggage handlers, mechanics and ground crews are threatening to strike next Monday, possibly leaving March Break travellers stranded.
"I believe if we hit the lines, this airline is grounded," Dave Ritchie, Canadian general vice-president of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, told reporters. "Unfortunately the public is going to be inconvenienced."
However, Ritchie conceded Labour Minister Lisa Raitt may intervene, as she has in previous disputes involving other unions at Air Canada over the past year.
"I'm pleading with the minister: let us do our job," said Ritchie, referring to having the union and company negotiate a deal.
If Raitt does force a legal manoeuvre to block the union, Ritchie said they would obey the law.
"We will respect the law. We have no other choice. Will we like it? The answer is no," he said.
In the House of Commons, Raitt said the government is concerned about this, given it's a busy travel time. Raitt, who has not indicated her next step, encouraged the parties "to step back from the breach, to go back to the table and to, indeed, find their way around a work stoppage and restore confidence to the travelling public."
At Pearson airport, many travellers heading off on March break vacations on Wednesday were doing so not knowing that the strike date of 12:01 a.m. Monday was set.
Roma Huculak and Victor Korotky of Etobicoke were heading to Florida with their daughters Katrina, 10, and Mia, 5.
"At least we're getting there. So if we have to stay for an extra few days, that's okay," Huculak said.
Katherine More was dropping off her daughter Glenys Robinson, 17, who is heading off on a 10-day school trip to Italy with about two dozen Richmond Hill classmates.
"I'm hoping she doesn't get stranded there," More said. "The trip is booked. What can you do?"
The union says it's unlikely the airline could operate without its members, who do everything from moving cargo and luggage to signing off that an aircraft is airworthy.
The last strike by machinists' union was in 1987. It lasted 20 days.
Copyright 2012 Toronto Star Newspapers Limited
