Flight attendants for Air Canada have defied a government order to return to work, prompting the airline to delay its plans to resume flights.
More than 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), initiated a strike after contract negotiations with Air Canada failed. The strike has resulted in the cancellation of numerous flights and disruptions for thousands of travelers during the peak summer season.
In response to the strike, the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) issued a directive ordering the flight attendants to return to work, effectively ending the strike and the lockout imposed by Air Canada. However, the union has openly defied this order, calling it unconstitutional and vowing to challenge it.
Reasons for defiance
- Pay and compensation:Â A key point of contention is the union’s demand for better wages and compensation for duties performed while aircraft are on the ground, as flight attendants are currently paid primarily when the plane is in motion.
- Negotiation process and government intervention:Â The union has expressed dissatisfaction with the negotiation process, accusing Air Canada of not negotiating in good faith and relying on government intervention to end the strike through binding arbitration.
- Perceived erosion of rights: Union officials have argued that the back-to-work order undermines their rights as workers and is a symptom of a larger trend of eroding workers’ rights, according to Al Jazeera.
