Air Canada Flights Resume After Union Ordered to End Strike

Air Canada flights resumed on Sunday after the government ordered cabin crew to end a strike that forced hundreds of cancellations, George Wright, Kayla Epstein and Rachel Muller-Heyndyk reported for BBC News.

Flight attendants are demanding higher wages and pay for time spent working while aircraft are on the ground. (Photo: Air Canada Facebook)

The Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) directed staff to return to work by 14:00 EDT (18:00 GMT) and said the collective agreement that expired on March 31 would be extended until a new deal is reached, Air Canada said.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu also ordered binding arbitration to settle the dispute after more than 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job early Saturday, grounding about 700 flights.

The union accused the government of “caving in to corporate pressure,” saying it had resisted a forced settlement. Flight attendants are demanding higher wages and pay for time spent working while aircraft are on the ground.

The strike began at 00:58 EDT on Saturday, though Air Canada had already started scaling back operations before then.

The carrier said it had suspended all flights, including those operated by its budget arm Air Canada Rouge, and urged customers not to travel to the airport unless booked with another airline.