Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants have refused to comply with a government back-to-work order, their union said on Sunday, as a pay dispute with the country's largest airline continues. The Canada Industrial Relations Board had directed the carrier to resume operations and have striking workers return to their posts by 2 p.m. Eastern time.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) described the order as "unconstitutional" and said workers would remain on strike. "We demand a fair, negotiated contract and to be compensated for all hours worked," the union said in a statement. Air Canada responded by accusing the union of "illegally" defying the order, adding that about 240 flights scheduled to resume on Sunday had been cancelled.
The strike began on Saturday, leading to around 700 flight cancellations and affecting an estimated 130,000 passengers across Canada, the United States and 65 other countries served by the airline. Air Canada accounts for roughly half of Canada's daily domestic air travel capacity, according to aviation data firm Cirium. Regional Air Canada Express flights operated by smaller carriers were not affected.
Labour minister Patty Hajdu intervened on Saturday, ordering the industrial relations board to use binding arbitration. CUPE national secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick called the move a "blatant betrayal" of workers' rights. The airline said it had offered a 38 percent increase in total compensation over four years, but the union disputed this figure, noting that the offer was lower than the 26 percent increase given to largely male pilots last year.
