Air Canada has suspended its plans to resume operations due to a defiance of a return-to-work order by the union representing 10,000 flight attendants. The ongoing strike has been impacting approximately 130,000 travellers daily during the peak summer holiday season.
Following government intervention, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) mandated that airline staff must return to work by 2 p.m. on Sunday. However, according to Canada’s largest carrier, flights would resume on Monday evening. In a statement, Air Canada accused the union of “illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy a direction from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.”
Union members, nevertheless, are refusing to comply with the return-to-work order, labelling it unconstitutional, and state they will not go back to work until their demands are met. “Our members are not going back to work,” said Mark Hancock, National President of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, outside Pearson International Airport in Toronto. “We are saying no.”
Speaking to union members outside the departure terminal at Pearson, Hancock tore up a copy of the back-to-work order and stated that they would not be returning to work on Tuesday either. Flight attendants at the protest were heard chanting, “Don’t blame me, blame AC.”
@drnathanwarner Solidarity with the @Air Canada workers walking the picket line at #YVR this morning! ✊🇨🇦 #AirCanada #Strike #FairWages #Vancouver ♬ original sound – drnathanwarner
In an email statement, a spokeswoman for Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu wrote. “Like many Canadians, the Minister is monitoring this situation closely. The Canada Industrial Relations Board is an independent tribunal.” Less than 12 hours after the strike began, Hajdu directed the 10,000 striking flight attendants to return to their jobs. She stated that with the US having imposed new tariffs on Canada, the country could not afford to risk its economy.
Air Canada’s strike grounded passengers & stranded 🇨🇦
— Shazi (@ShaziGoalie) August 16, 2025
The Labour Minister has now ordered flight attendants back to work under arbitration.
Worker rights vs. national interest—Canada’s labour tensions are only beginning.pic.twitter.com/nzw1qhyzAk
This action follows the escalation of a contentious contract dispute on Friday, when the union rejected Air Canada’s proposal for government-directed arbitration. Arbitration is a process where a neutral third party is brought in to decide the terms of a new contract.
According to Air Canada, those impacted by the disruption will be able to receive a full refund via the airline’s website or mobile application. The carrier said that there will be alternative options through other Canadian and foreign airlines when it is possible for those interested in rescheduling their trip. However, Air Canada also cautioned that it may not be able to do so immediately, as flights on those airlines are fully booked “due to the summer travel peak.”
