Canada declares Air Canada flight attendant strike illegal as travel chaos grows

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has ruled the strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants illegal, ordering them to return to work immediately and submit to arbitration. The walkout, now in its third day, has disrupted travel for about 130,000 passengers per day at the height of the summer season.

Air Canada suspended plans to restart flights on Sunday after workers, represented by CUPE, defied an earlier back-to-work order. The airline typically operates around 700 flights daily.

Prime Minister Mark Carney urged both sides to reach a deal quickly, stressing the need for fair pay but also warning of the severe disruption to Canadians and international visitors.

The dispute centres on wages and unpaid duties performed by flight attendants when planes aren’t in the air. Air Canada’s latest proposal included a 38% boost in total compensation over four years, while CUPE rejected the offer, saying the proposed 8% first-year raise was inadequate given inflation.

CUPE President Mark Hancock dramatically tore up a copy of the back-to-work order outside Toronto’s Pearson Airport on Sunday, declaring members would not return this week. The CIRB has now demanded that the union issue a written notice to members to resume work, though it remains unclear what enforcement options exist if CUPE refuses.

Passengers with cancelled flights can request full refunds via the airline’s website or mobile app.

The standoff echoes last year’s government intervention in a national rail strike, which unions argued stripped away their bargaining power.