Canada’s largest airline found itself at the center of growing summer travel chaos on Monday as the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) declared the strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants illegal and ordered them back to work. The move comes after the union ignored a previous directive to return and submit to government-directed arbitration.
The strike, now in its third day, has left roughly 130,000 travelers daily facing delays or cancellations during one of the busiest travel periods of the year. Air Canada, which operates approximately 700 flights a day, had initially planned to resume operations on Sunday, but the union’s defiance forced another postponement to Monday evening.
“The members of the union’s bargaining unit are directed to resume the performance of their duties immediately and to refrain from engaging in unlawful strike activities,” the CIRB said in a written decision, emphasizing that the union must notify its members in writing by noon Monday. The board, an independent administrative tribunal, enforces Canadian labor law but it remains unclear what steps could follow if flight attendants continue to refuse.
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Prime Minister Mark Carney highlighted the broader consequences. “We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action,” he said, urging both sides to reach an agreement quickly. He stressed the importance of fair compensation for flight attendants while expressing disappointment that negotiations had stalled.
The dispute centers on pay and unpaid work performed when planes are grounded. Air Canada’s latest offer promised a 38% increase in total compensation, including benefits and pensions, over four years — a package the airline said would make its flight attendants the best compensated in the country. CUPE, however, contended that the first-year 8% increase was insufficient given inflation pressures.
The standoff has been highly visible. On Sunday, CUPE national president Mark Hancock dramatically tore up the initial back-to-work order outside Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, drawing cheers from picketing flight attendants.
Travelers affected by cancellations or delays are advised they can request full refunds via Air Canada’s website or mobile app, as the airline works to stabilize operations.
As both sides navigate the tense standoff, millions of Canadians and visitors remain caught in the crossfire of a labor dispute whose resolution will shape the summer travel season.
