Air Canada Flight Attendants Defy Back-to-Work Order as Strike Grounds Half a Million Passengers

Air Canada flight attendants vowed on Monday to press ahead with their strike despite a back-to-work order issued by the country’s labour tribunal, even as fresh negotiations resumed in hopes of breaking the deadlock that has crippled travel for half a million passengers worldwide.

The strike, involving nearly 10,000 flight attendants, began just after midnight on Saturday. The workers argue that Canada’s flagship carrier has failed to adequately address demands for higher wages and compensation for unpaid ground duties such as boarding and lengthy delays.

The walkout has forced widespread cancellations across Air Canada’s network of 180 destinations globally, leaving passengers stranded and sparking mounting political pressure.

Over the weekend, Federal Labour Minister Patty Hajdu invoked emergency provisions to halt the strike and push both sides into binding arbitration. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) subsequently ordered flight attendants back to work on Sunday.

But the attendants’ union — the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) — flatly rejected the order, vowing not to return until a fair settlement is reached. Air Canada, which had hoped to partially restore service, was forced to reverse course after the union’s defiance.

On Monday, CIRB escalated its pressure, ordering CUPE to immediately instruct members to resume their duties and halt what it called “unlawful strike activities.” The tribunal gave the union until 12:00 pm (1600 GMT) to comply.

Addressing reporters after the deadline passed, CUPE President Mark Hancock stood firm, insisting the standoff can only be resolved at the bargaining table.

“None of us want to be in defiance of the law,” Hancock said, “but we will not back down from fighting for workers who are forced to put in hours on the ground without getting paid a dime.”