Air Canada strike ruled illegal as cabin crews defy order to return to work

Canada’s labour regulator has declared the ongoing strike by 10,000 Air Canada cabin crew members illegal, after workers ignored orders to return to their jobs.

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) had ruled that attendants must be back at work by 2pm ET on Sunday, but the strike continued into Monday.

Cabin crew say wage hikes offered by Air Canada fail to keep pace with inflation and want pay for duties performed on the ground, such as boarding, which are currently unpaid. The strike has sparked widespread travel disruptions during peak summer season, when the airline typically carries 130,000 passengers daily.

Union leader Mark Hancock of CUPE said he was willing to risk fines or jail time rather than accept binding arbitration. Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau said he was “amazed” by the defiance, adding that the union’s proposals exceed the 40 percent pay increase already offered.

Prime Minister Mark Carney backed flight attendants, saying they deserve fair compensation, but also acknowledged that the strike is disrupting “hundreds of thousands” of travellers.

Air Canada has suspended its third-quarter and annual profit forecasts as planes remain grounded. The union has invited the airline back to the table to negotiate.