Air Canada Pulls Back Reopening Plans as Flight Attendants Union Rejects Work Order

Air Canada Employees Reinstated to Work by Early Sunday

Government Moves Prompt Board Decision

The Canada Industrial Relations Board issued a directive requiring airline personnel to return to their duties by 2 pm Sunday after the federal authorities stepped in.

Air Canada Plans to Resume Flights

In response, Air Canada confirmed that it intends to restart its flight operations later that evening, ensuring passengers can travel as scheduled.

Key Takeaways

• Board order effective immediately for Sunday work.
• Government intervention was the catalyst for the decision.
• Air Canada’s flight schedule will resume after the mandated work return.

Implications for Travelers

Passengers can expect normal service on Sunday evening, with minimal disruption once the staff return to work.

Air Canada Postpones Flight Resumption Amid Union Standoff

Air Canada announced that it will delay its planned restart of operations after the union representing around 10,000 flight attendants declared it would refuse to comply with a return‑to‑work order. The dispute has already disrupted the travel of approximately 130,000 passengers worldwide each day during the busy summer season.

Regulatory Actions

• The Canada Industrial Relations Board issued an order requiring airline employees to return to work by 2 pm on Sunday.
• In a swift government intervention, Air Canada intended to resume flights on the evening of Sunday.
• Following the developments, the airline has shifted its plan to take off again on Monday evening.

Air Canada’s Statement

Air Canada issued a formal statement accusing the union of illegally directing its members to defy the board’s directive. The company claims that this action violates the authority of the Industrial Relations Board.

Union’s Reaction

The union maintains that it will keep refusing to work until its demands are acknowledged. They argue that the return‑to‑work order breaches constitutional rights, thereby justifying their continued protest.

Showdown at Canada’s Airports Over Back‑to‑Work Order

In Vancouver, union picketers spread around the departures level of Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, British Columbia, on Sunday, August 17, 2025.

At Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, Mark Hancock, national president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, stood outside the departures terminal, cutting a copy of the back‑to‑work directive. He declared, “Our members are not going back to work.” He added that the union would not return on Tuesday either.

Flight attendants were heard chanting, “Don’t blame me, blame AC.” The slogan echoed through the terminal.

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu noted that she is keeping a close eye on the situation, reminding that the Canada Industrial Relations Board is an independent tribunal.

Key Points

• Picketers at Vancouver International Airport block the departures level.
• CNUP president Mark Hancock refuses to comply with the back‑to‑work order.
• The union will not return on Tuesday.
• Flight attendants chant “Don’t blame me, blame AC” outside Pearson.
• The Minister stresses independent tribunal oversight.

Contract talks at an impasse

Federal Minister Orders Air Canada Crew Back to Gridiron

Immediate Reinstatement Following Strike

Just under 12 hours after a wave of flight attendants walked off the job, Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu instructed the ranks of approximately 10,000 crew members to resume their duties. She emphasized that the present moment is not conducive to taking economic risks, especially with the U.S. having imposed unprecedented tariffs on Canada.

Turning the Issue to the Industrial Relations Board

Hajdu referred the dispute to the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which has now decided to extend the existing collective agreement for the interim. The extension will remain in place until the arbitrate can draft a new contract.

Stalemate in Negotiations

• The union rejected Air Canada’s earlier invitation to participate in a government‑directed arbitration. This process would have allowed a neutral third party to set the terms for a new agreement.
• Despite the disagreement, the government stresses that it is pro‑union and acknowledges that a deadlock exists between the two sides.

Key Takeaways

1. Workers are required to return to work within a short deadline.
2. The CIRB’s temporary extension hints at a quick resolution.
3. The strike highlights the increasing complexity of labor disputes amid heightened trade tensions.

Air Canada Employees Protest at Vancouver International Airport

On Sunday, August 17, 2025, workers under the Workers’ Union for Corporate Employees (CUPE) staged a picket line outside Vancouver International Airport in Richmond, B.C. The demonstration was part of an ongoing dispute between Air Canada and CUPE, which has now spanned roughly eight months.

Impact on Passengers

Customers caught in the ripple effects of the strike can:

• Request a full refund directly via Air Canada’s website or mobile app.
• Consider alternative travel arrangements offered by Air Canada, which may involve bookings with other Canadian or international carriers.

Air Canada cautioned that immediate rebooking is unlikely due to the summer travel peak and the fact that many alternate flights are already fully booked.

Negotiation Highlights

The two parties have yet to converge on a tentative agreement. Key sticking points include:

• Wage disparities – Air Canada’s proposal of a 38% rise in total compensation, including benefits and pensions, over a four‑year span was touted as a significant step towards making its flight attendants the best compensated in Canada.
• First‑year raise – The union countered that the initial 8% increase was insufficient given current inflationary pressures.
• Unpaid duties – Disagreement over compensation for crew members during periods when aircraft are grounded.

Although negotiations continue, both sides maintain that they remain far apart on these critical issues.