Air Canada flight attendants defy government order and continue strike

In Canada, Air Canada flight attendants have been on strike since early Saturday morning, August 16, 2025, involving approximately 10,000 employees. The strike has brought significant disruption to the airline, grounding around 940 flights and affecting over 130,000 travelers daily during the peak summer travel season. The Canadian government intervened, stating that the strike was illegal, and invoked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to order the flight attendants to return to work by noon Monday, August 18, 2025. However, the union representing the flight attendants, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), announced it would defy the government order, citing concerns over unfair labor practices and insufficient compensation for work done when planes are not in the air. Despite the government's attempts to mediate the situation, both Air Canada and the CUPE remain at an impasse regarding pay and working conditions. Air Canada has previously offered a compensation package that includes a 38% increase over four years, but the union contends that the offer does not sufficiently account for inflation or the unpaid work that flight attendants are required to perform, which includes responsibilities while on the ground. The refusal by the union to comply with the return-to-work directive has left many travelers confused and frustrated, as the airline expressed uncertainty about resuming its operations amidst the ongoing labor dispute. The strike originated after flight attendants voted overwhelmingly in favor of taking job action due to prolonged contract negotiations that have been ongoing for several months. Key issues include resistance against what CUPE describes as unpaid labor, particularly during necessary pre- and post-flight activities that are not compensated. In response to the union's actions, Air Canada stated that it would delay its planned resumption of flights until the situation is resolved, indicating that it had intended to resume operations on the evening of August 18, 2025, before the union's decision to maintain the strike. Canadian authorities have urged both parties to engage in constructive dialogue to reach a resolution that would allow flight attendants to return to work while ensuring they are compensated fairly. Prime Minister Mark Carney mentioned the importance of maintaining economic stability during the ongoing labor dispute and called on both sides to negotiate. The case reflects wider challenges in labor relations within the airline industry, and observers anticipate that the ongoing standoff could have long-term implications not only for Air Canada but for labor practices across the sector in Canada.