**UPDATE**  Federal Labour Minister Lisa Raitt is stepping in to prevent a work stoppage at Air Canada next week. The minister is sending the dispute between the airline and two of its unions to the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. The move prevents a strike or a lockout at the airline during the busy spring break travel period! **UPDATE**
With a strike looming next Monday by Air Canada’s mechanics and baggage handlers, the airline has also given its 3,000 pilots a final offer that expires at noon Thursday.

With a strike looming next Monday by Air Canada’s mechanics and baggage handlers, the airline has also given its 3,000 pilots a final offer that expires at noon Thursday.

The pilots, who have now been negotiating on and off for 18 months, have been a legal strike position since Feb. 14.

But they have always insisted they don’t want a labour disruption.

The airline clearly wants an end to the uncertainty, which affects bookings and customer confidence, especially during March Break, one of the busiest travel times.

In a union bulletin to pilots, the Air Canada Pilots Association’s negotiating committee writes that the two sides met for the first time to bargain on Wednesday, since Labour Minister Lisa Raitt ordered new six-month mediation period last month.

The union said it expected “a renewed commitment to bargain by the corporation.

“Instead, the corporation chose to table what they characterized as its ‘best, last and final offer,’ “the bulletin said.

It added the offer was essentially the same as the Jan. 29 offer with minor amendments.

The union told pilots if ACPA did not accept the offer, it would “pursue any and all rights afforded to it by law.”

The union said it is reviewing its options in light of this development.

Dave Ritchie, a union leader with the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, which represent the airline’s 8,600 ground crews, told reporters Wednesday that he fears Raitt with intervene in some way to block a strike or will legislate them back to work.

Raitt has made it clear that she doesn’t want to see job action but hasn’t tipped her hand about what she will do.

Last fall, she blocked a strike by flight attendants by referring the matter to the Canada Industrial Relations Board.

The two sides then agreed to binding arbitration.

Some pilots are speculating that the company may serve its required 72 hours notice to lock out the pilots if they don’t accept the ultimatum.

That could then coincide with the machinists’ union’s 12:01 am Monday deadline, prompting government intervention.