OTTAWA, June 27 (Reuters) - Canada's federal government

on Thursday intervened to prevent a strike by maintenance

engineers at WestJet Airlines, the union representing the

workers said in a statement.

The Aircraft Mechanics Fraternal Association said Labour

Minister Seamus O'Regan had ordered the country's industrial

relations board to impose final binding arbitration. The union

said it would direct its members to refrain from any unlawful

job action.