Montreal, August 18 - In a significant escalation of labor tensions, over 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), have defied a government-mandated back-to-work order, continuing their strike that began on August 16, 2025. The strike, which has disrupted travel for more than 100,000 passengers worldwide, stems from unresolved contract negotiations that have persisted for eight months since the previous agreement expired in March. The union’s decision to ignore the order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), issued under the direction of Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, has grounded hundreds of flights, with Air Canada canceling approximately 700 daily flights, including 494 on August 17 alone. The flight attendants are demanding fair wages and compensation for unpaid work performed on the ground, such as safety checks and passenger assistance, which they argue is a critical issue given that they are only paid when the plane is in motion. This labor action has left travelers stranded at major airports like Toronto Pearson, Montreal, and Vancouver, with many expressing frustration over the uncertainty of flight resumptions.
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The Canadian government intervened swiftly, invoking Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code to impose binding arbitration and order the flight attendants back to work by 2 p.m. on August 17. Hajdu justified the move by citing the economic fallout from the strike, including its impact on the movement of critical goods like pharmaceuticals and organ tissue, which Air Canada handles for 40% of domestic shipments. The government’s action was supported by business groups like the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, which welcomed the intervention to stabilize supply chains during the peak summer travel season. However, CUPE has condemned the order as unconstitutional, arguing it violates the Charter rights of its members, 70% of whom are women, and undermines their right to collective bargaining. The union has pledged to challenge the order legally, pointing to a perceived conflict of interest with the CIRB chair, Maryse Tremblay, a former Air Canada legal counsel. This defiance is rare, with historical parallels to the 1978 Canadian postal workers’ strike, where union leaders faced fines and imprisonment for non-compliance.
Air Canada, Canada’s largest airline, initially planned to resume limited operations on August 17 but was forced to suspend these plans, rescheduling flight resumptions for Monday evening, August 18. The airline’s latest offer included a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, which it claimed would make its flight attendants the best-paid in Canada. However, CUPE disputes this, arguing the proposed 8% first-year raise falls short against inflation and is significantly less than the 26% raise given to pilots the previous year. The union’s stance has drawn support from other labor organizations, like Unifor, which criticized the government for undermining workers’ rights. The ongoing dispute has broader implications, as legal experts question the constitutionality of using Section 107 to curtail strikes, referencing ongoing court challenges from similar interventions in rail and port disputes in 2024.
The standoff raises critical questions about labor rights and government intervention in Canada. If the courts find Section 107 unconstitutional, the government’s ability to enforce penalties, such as fines or potential jail time for union leaders, could be limited, potentially emboldening further labor actions. For now, Air Canada passengers face continued uncertainty, with the airline offering refunds or rebooking options on other carriers, though availability is constrained due to high summer demand. The strike’s impact extends beyond Canada, affecting Air Canada’s operations in 65 countries and its Star Alliance partners. As both sides remain entrenched, the resolution hinges on either a negotiated agreement or the outcome of CUPE’s legal challenge, leaving the aviation industry and travelers in limbo during a critical travel period.