Air Canada Strike Continues as Union Defies Return-to-Work Order
Air Canada’s flight attendants are refusing to end their strike, defying a government-backed order to return to work by Sunday afternoon. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents more than 10,000 attendants, called the directive “unconstitutional” and accused the government of “caving to corporate pressure.” Air Canada had planned to resume operations on Sunday but has now pushed that to Monday evening, leaving thousands of travelers stranded and confused at airports.
The strike began early Saturday after months of failed contract talks, with workers demanding better pay and compensation for time spent on the ground, which they say is currently unpaid. CUPE rejected the airline’s proposed 38% raise over four years, calling it “below inflation, below market value, below minimum wage.” The federal government stepped in quickly, ordering binding arbitration through the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), but the union says that move violates their right to bargain and only delays resolving key issues.
The standoff has already led to 700 flight cancellations and disrupted travel plans for more than 100,000 passengers daily. Legal experts warn that CUPE’s refusal to comply with the CIRB order could result in fines or even jail time for union leaders. Meanwhile, the government has not yet said how it will enforce the order, with Parliament not returning until mid-September.
