More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants defy government order and stay on strike

More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants will continue striking despite federal back-to-work orders, their union said Sunday, intensifying disruption at Canada’s largest airline.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) told members they remain “on strike and locked out” and stressed there was no obligation to report for duty. The defiance comes after Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to enforce a return to work under Section 107 of the Labour Code.

Air Canada said it had cancelled 240 flights on Sunday after CUPE “illegally directed” staff to stay off the job. The airline said flights will resume Monday evening.

Union’s demands

CUPE members walked out early Saturday after voting almost unanimously for strike action. They are demanding higher wages and compensation for time spent on the ground.

Union president Wesley Lesosky accused the government of violating Charter rights by siding with Air Canada. He said the company expected “hours and hours of unpaid labour” while reaping “extraordinary executive compensation.”

Company’s offer

Air Canada said it had proposed a 38% rise in total compensation over four years, including a 12% to 16% hourly wage increase in the first year.

The union rejected the offer, calling instead for fresh talks “at the bargaining table rather than through government intervention.”

Government stance

Minister Hajdu denied being anti-union, saying both sides had reached an impasse and required arbitration.

The Labour Ministry and Air Canada have not responded to further requests for comment.

Air Canada grounded on Monday

Air Canada's fleet of hundreds of planes remained grounded on Monday morning after striking flight attendants refused a government-backed order to get back to work and called on the airline to return to the bargaining table.

The carrier, which normally carries 130,000 people daily and is part of the global Star Alliance of airlines, had planned to start ramping up operations on Sunday evening, after a labour relations board ordered the union to return to work and start binding arbitration.

The union said no, setting up an almost unprecedented standoff with the Canadian government, which had requested the back-to-work order.

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