Air Canada delays resumption after strike

A labor dispute at Air Canada keeps planes grounded as 10,000 flight attendants extend their strike despite a government return to work order, delaying service for thousands of travelers.

Air Canada delays resumption after flight attendants extend strike

Air Canada is delaying plans to resume services after its 10,000 flight attendants continued their strike, despite a government order to return to work by Sunday. The walkout began early Saturday and has disrupted travel for more than 100,000 people during the peak summer season. The Canada Industrial Relations Board had ordered crews back by 2 p.m. local time, but the union says the demonstrations will continue as talks remain at an impasse over pay and hours worked.

Air Canada now says it plans to restart flights on Monday evening, pending any changes on the ground. The shutdown has already affected roughly 130,000 travelers daily and led to hundreds of canceled flights over the weekend. The airline has offered refunds where possible and suggested alternative routes, though it cautions availability may be tight during the travel peak. The dispute, ongoing for about eight months, has seen the union reject government-directed arbitration and seek a negotiated settlement instead. Future talks hinge on wage and overtime compensation, with Air Canada previously proposing a four-year package that would lift total pay by about 38 percent, while union leaders say the first-year raise is not enough to offset inflation.

The standoff shows how labor leverage and government intervention collide in a sector that cannot tolerate long disruption. When a major carrier faces a protracted walkout, the caseload and public expectations push both sides toward a weekend deadline that rarely satisfies either party. The use of a return-to-work order signals a willingness to use state power to shield the economy, but it also risks stoking backlash from workers who see bargaining power eroding.

Looking ahead, the episode could reshape how airlines negotiate with unions in a high-stakes period for travel. For workers, the case tests solidarity and the value of overtime, while for management it tests the cost of wage packages against operational reliability. The broader context, including similar interventions in other sectors, suggests a pattern where governments step in to balance economic need with labor rights, a balance that is often contested in public forums.

Highlights

The outcome will shape how travelers plan and how workers press their claims in the months ahead.