Air Canada resumes flights after government directive

Air Canada plans to resume flights after a government directive ended a cabin crew strike that disrupted about 700 flights daily and stranded more than 100,000 passengers.

Air Canada to resume flights after government moves to end strike

Air Canada said flights would resume Sunday evening following a directive from the government and orders from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board. The strike by cabin crew led to the suspension of roughly 700 daily flights and stranded more than 100,000 travelers. The airline had begun cancelling flights on Friday in anticipation of the stoppage.

The CIRB ordered that the terms of the old collective agreement, which expired on March 31, be extended until a new deal is reached. The dispute centered on pay for time spent on the ground and assisting passengers during boarding, a point CUPE had pressed for as compensation. The union and the airline had favored negotiated settlement, but binding arbitration was invoked to break the impasse.

The government stepping in marks a major shift in how such disputes are handled. It may speed up the return to normal schedules, but it also alters leverage in future talks and raises questions about the limits of state intervention in private sector labor disputes.

The move could shape how unions approach bargaining in essential industries. If arbitration becomes more common, workers may worry that gains won in past contracts could be traded for speed. The long term will depend on how the new agreement is crafted and communicated to travelers and staff.

Highlights

The road back to normal will test how quickly policy can align with the realities of labor markets