Air Canada now says it will restart flights Monday as union continues strike

Air Canada has revised its plans to resume flights today after the federal government stepped in and ordered binding arbitration to end a flight attendants’ strike Saturday, after the union representing the flight attendants says its workers remain on strike.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees says it will challenge an order by the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to return to work by 2 p.m. ET.

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Air Canada initially said the first flights will resume Sunday evening, but that it will take several days before its operations return to normal and then issued a statement revising that, saying flights will now resume on Monday night.

https://twitter.com/AirCanada/status/1957127803339469023

“Our members are not going back to work,” Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) national president Mark Hancock said outside the Toronto Airport on Sunday. “We are saying no.”

The federal government said Saturday that it was ordering the airline and its flight attendants back to work, ending a strike and lockout after less than 12 hours.

Hancock said the union received notice from the CIRB late Saturday, informing them of the impending return to work. He said the union felt the “whole process has been unfair.”

“Air Canada has really refused to bargain with us, and they refused to bargain with us because they knew this government would come in on their white horse and try and save the day,” he said.

Air Canada said on Sunday that the CIRB has ordered the terms of the collective agreement between the union and the airline that expired on March 31 be extended until a new agreement is reached.

CUPE has accused federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu of caving to Air Canada’s demands.

Air Canada had previously asked Hajdu to order the parties to enter a binding arbitration process. But intervention was something she resisted until Saturday, when she said it became clear the two sides were at an impasse.

CUPE maintained it opposed arbitration, instead preferring to solve the impasse through bargaining.

The union accused Air Canada of refusing to bargain in good faith due to the likelihood of the government stepping in and imposing arbitration.

The union has said its main sticking points revolve around wages that have been outpaced by inflation during its previous 10-year contract, along with unpaid labour when planes aren’t in the air.

CUPE announced it is calling a national day of action and will have demonstrators outside of the Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary airports this morning.

On Friday night, CUPE announced its members were heading to the picket lines after being unable to reach an eleventh-hour deal with the airline, while Air Canada locked out its agents about 30 minutes later due to the strike action.

More than 700 Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights were cancelled amid the work stoppage, the airline said.

Flights by Air Canada Express, operated by third-party airlines Jazz and PAL, were not affected.

The airline says customers whose flights were cancelled and did not travel or accept a refund will be notified and provided with a new itinerary.

— with files from CKOM News

Read more:

• Marooned by Air Canada flight attendant strike? Here are your options
• Sask. NDP demands answers after information withheld about marshal complaint
• Air Canada communication over cancellations frustrating for travellers