Mon Aug 18 04:30:00 UTC 2025: **Air Canada Flight Attendants Defy Back-to-Work Order, Travel Chaos Continues**
**Ottawa, Canada -** Air Canada faces a second day of widespread disruption as its 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), are defying a government-ordered return to work. The union is protesting wages and demanding compensation for pre- and post-flight work, for which they are currently unpaid.
Less than 12 hours after the strike began on Saturday morning, the federal labor minister ordered binding arbitration by the Canada Industrial Relations Board. The board ordered the flight attendants to return to work Sunday, but the union vowed to fight the order in court, calling it unconstitutional.
“We will be challenging this blatantly unconstitutional order that violates the charter rights of 10,000 flight attendants,” CUPE said in a statement.
The strike has grounded approximately 700 flights a day, impacting an estimated 130,000 passengers. Air Canada, the country’s dominant carrier, has suspended its reopening plan until Monday evening.
Passengers are facing difficulties rebooking flights, with limited capacity at competing airlines. Some travelers have been rebooked on flights days after their original departure dates without compensation for accommodation expenses.
Legal experts suggest the union faces an uphill battle in securing an injunction against the back-to-work order. Defiance could result in significant fines for both the union and its members. The Union hopes for similar outcome as teachers from Ontario who recently won defiance against a government.
First Piper 