Air Canada Strike Escalates as Flight Attendants Defy Federal Back-to-Work Order
Air Canada Strike Escalates as Flight Attendants Defy Federal Back-to-Work Order
Air Canada’s operations face severe disruption as over 10,000 flight attendants continue their strike, openly defying a back-to-work order issued by the Canadian government. The Air Canada component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced Sunday that its members would remain off the job, despite Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu’s directive under Section 107 of the Canada Labor Code.
The government’s intervention, which aimed to secure industrial peace and protect the Canadian economy, instructed employees to resume duties by 2 p.m. ET Sunday. However, CUPE stated it invited Air Canada back to the negotiating table instead of complying, accusing the airline of relying on government intervention when bargaining became difficult.
In response to the ongoing strike and defiance, Air Canada confirmed the cancellation of 240 flights operating Sunday afternoon, citing the union’s ‘illegally directed’ defiance. The airline has advised affected customers not to travel to airports unless they have confirmed alternative arrangements, with flights anticipated to resume Monday evening.
The strike, which began early Saturday morning after 99.7% of CUPE members voted in favor, stems from demands for significant wage increases and compensation for time when planes are grounded. While Air Canada stated it offered a 38% total compensation increase over four years and a 12-16% hourly raise in the first year, the union contends the government’s order violates their Charter rights and forces ‘hours and hours of unpaid labour’ on underpaid staff amidst the company’s high profits.
Jobs Minister Hajdu defended the government’s action, denying an anti-union stance and asserting that intervention was necessary due to an ‘impasse’ in negotiations between the airline and its workers.
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