Air Canada flight attendants to defy back-to-work order, remain on strike, union says

Air Canada flight attendants vow to defy a federal back-to-work order, as CUPE challenges the ruling and holds protests at major airports, demanding fair wages.

Air Canada flight attendants intend to remain on strike in defiance of a back-to-work order, the union said Sunday only hours after the airline had announced a plan to resume flights.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees said it will challenge an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board to return to work by 2 p.m. ET.

“Our members are not going back to work,” CUPE National president Mark Hancock said outside the Toronto Airport. “We are saying no.”

The federal government said Saturday that it was ordering the airline and its flight attendants back to work, ending a strike and lockout after less than 12 hours.

Hancock said the union received notice from the CIRB late Saturday, informing them of the impending return to work. He said the union felt the “whole process has been unfair.”

“Air Canada has really refused to bargain with us, and they refused to bargain with us because they knew this government would come in on their white horse and try and save the day,” he said.

Air Canada had planned to resume flights Sunday after the federal government stepped in and ordered binding arbitration.

The airline said more than 700 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights had been cancelled during the work stoppage. The strike has left thousands of passengers stranded or struggling to find ways to reach their destinations.