Unpaid work is one of the biggest sticking points in Air Canada’s ongoing labour dispute, and one expert believes a strike could trigger changes far beyond the country’s largest airline.

Ian Lee, associate professor at Carleton University’s Sprott School of Business, says the issue has the potential to shake up Canada’s entire aviation sector if flight attendants do walk off the job.

“I don’t think there’s very much support anywhere in the country for the idea of working for free,” Lee told 1130 NewsRadio.

“It suggests to me that the government may order them back to work through the Canada Industrial Relations Board, but say we commit to introducing legislation in the fall that will amend the Labour Standards Act to prohibit unpaid work. They could do something like that.”

The union representing Air Canada flight attendants says its members are putting in dozens of hours each month without pay — covering duties like boarding, deplaning, and safety checks.

Federal government could pass new rules

Lee believes that could push the federal government to step in with new rules, making it illegal for airlines not to compensate workers for that time.

However, he also warns that any change will not come without complications.

“You can only legislate against the domestic airlines.”

Lee explains that new labour laws could put Canadian carriers at a disadvantage, as international airlines flying into Canada would not be bound by Ottawa’s rules.

“I still think the federal government can develop and craft legislative amendments that will allow all the airlines to be on the same level playing field in Canada.”

If Ottawa does move to outlaw unpaid work in aviation, Lee says it could set a precedent that other industries will watch closely.

But unlike professions such as teaching — where the lines around off-the-clock duties are often blurry — he argues the airline example is far more black and white.

“If you’re standing up there in the plane — it has come to a stop — and you’re no longer being paid, yet you’re still deplaning customers, I don’t think anybody can say you’re not on the job,” Lee explained.

With a work stoppage possible as early as Saturday morning, Lee says his research shows federal governments of all stripes have repeatedly intervened when strikes hit the transportation sector.

He doubts an Air Canada strike would last more than a few days before Ottawa steps in.