Flights remain suspended
Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights continued to be suspended as the union representing the striking flight attendants defied a government order to return to work. The carrier began winding down flights last Thursday.
Flights had been scheduled to resume on Sunday after a federal minister ordered the end of the strike by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents 10,000 cabin crew employees. Air Canada issued a statement that the union “illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy a direction from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).”
The CIRB had ordered employees to return to work on Sunday afternoon. It also ordered that the term of the collective agreement between Air Canada and CUPE that expired on March 31, 2025, be extended to include the period beginning April 1 and ending on the day on which the new collective agreement between the parties comes into effect, according to Air Canada. The CIRB also imposed final binding arbitration to resolve the outstanding terms of the collective agreement.
CUPE said the Canadian government had caved to “corporate pressure” and done “incalculable damage” to workers’ rights by siding with Air Canada.
Candace Rennick, national secretary-treasurer for CUPE, said in a statement, “The government’s decision to intervene on behalf of an already wildly profitable employer, while a predominantly female workforce fights tooth and nail for a path out of poverty, is not just unjust, it’s a disgraceful misuse of power that reeks of systemic bias and corporate favoritism.”
The union is seeking improved wages for flight attendants, which would include being paid for duties that are performed while planes are on the ground, such as boarding passengers. Currently, Air Canada attendants are paid only for duties performed during flight times.
Air Canada said on Sunday that it would offer passengers with canceled flights several options, including a full refund or receiving a credit for future travel. The carrier will also offer to rebook customers on other carriers, although capacity is currently limited.
Air Canada Express flights operated by Jazz or PAL continue to operate as normal.
