Air Canada flight attendants defy back-to-work order, keep strike going

Air Canada’s flight attendants say they’re not backing down, even after a government labour board ordered them back on the job by Sunday afternoon.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the workers, called the order “unconstitutional” and said members will remain on strike. Instead, they’ve invited the airline to return to the table to “negotiate a fair deal.”

Canada’s biggest airline now plans to restart flights on Monday evening. In the meantime, the strike is hitting hard, disrupting travel for about 130,000 passengers per day at the height of the summer season.

The government had stepped in on Saturday, asking the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration — something allowed under the Canada Labour Code if the economy is at risk. The CIRB quickly issued the order, siding with the airline. But the union isn’t budging.

It’s rare for a union to outright defy the CIRB, and it’s not yet clear what the government will do if the strike continues.

The walkout, the first by Air Canada flight attendants since 1985, began Saturday after months of failed contract talks. Natasha Stea, a flight attendant and local union president, said workers from other unions showed up to support them in Toronto on Sunday.

At the heart of the dispute is pay. Flight attendants want to be compensated for time on the ground between flights and while helping passengers board. Right now, they’re mostly paid only when the plane is in motion. Workers are also unhappy with Air Canada’s wage hike offer, which they argue doesn’t keep up with inflation or match the federal minimum wage.