Air Canada Attendants Defy Gov’t Directive to End Strike

The Canadian Union of Public Employees, which
represents 10,000 of Air Canada’s cabin crew has defied authorities orders
to finish its labor strike, which has grounded Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights
since Saturday—after forcing the carriers to wind down flights on Aug. 14 and 15. 

Air Canada deliberate to renew flights on Sunday after the Canadian
Industrial Relations Board acted on a directive of the Canada Labour Code from
the federal minister of jobs and households that ordered the top to the strike by
CUPE. The service has since issued an announcement that the union “illegally directed its
flight attendant members to defy a course from the Canadian
Industrial Relations Board.”

The CIRB directed workers to return to work and flights to
resume by 2 p.m. EDT Aug. 17. The Board additional ordered that the time period of the
collective settlement between Air Canada and CUPE that expired on March 31,
2025, be prolonged to incorporate the interval starting April 1 and ending on the day
on which the brand new collective settlement between the events comes into impact,
based on Air Canada. The CIRB additionally imposed remaining binding arbitration to
resolve the excellent phrases of the collective settlement. 

CUPE stated the Canadian authorities had caved to
“corporate pressure” and executed “incalculable damage” to
employees’ rights by siding with Air Canada.

“This is totally shameful and a blatant
betrayal,” CUPE nationwide secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick stated in a
assertion. “The authorities’s choice to intervene on behalf of an already
wildly worthwhile employer, whereas a predominantly feminine workforce fights tooth
and nail for a path out of poverty, isn’t just unjust, it is a disgraceful
misuse of energy that reeks of systemic bias and company favoritism.”

CUPE later the identical day refused to finish the strike. According to the Associated Press, CUPE nationwide president Mark Hancock tore up a replica of the back-to-work order whereas standing outdoors Toronto’s Pearson International Airport. “Our members are not going back to work. We are saying no,” he introduced. He additionally stated flight attendants won’t return Tuesday.

The group is combating for higher wages for flight attendants, which
would come with wages for duties which can be carried out whereas planes are on
the bottom, equivalent to boarding passengers. Currently, Air Canada
attendants are paid just for duties carried out throughout
flight instances. 

Air Canada issued
a lockout and commenced to cancel flights on Aug. 14, with operations ceasing
by Saturday after CUPE filed a strike discover on Aug. 13 when negotiations
between the union and service got here to a standstill.

Because of the total shutdown, plane and crews are
“out of position vis-à-vis the schedule,” Air Canada stated in a
assertion previous to CUPE’s refusal to comply with the federal government directive. The service warned it might take seven to 10 days to stabilize as soon as flights resume and passengers ought to anticipate cancellations throughout that point. 

Air Canada launched data on Sunday that it’s going to provide passengers with cancelled flights choices, together with acquiring a full refund or receiving
a credit score for future journey. The service can even provide to rebook clients on
different carriers, though capability is at the moment restricted.

Air Canada Express flights
operated by Jazz or PAL proceed to function as regular.

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