Air Canada Flight Attendants Ordered Back Amid Travel Chaos/ Newslooks/ WASHINGTON/ J. Mansour/ Morning Edition/ Canada’s federal government forced Air Canada’s 10,000 striking flight attendants back to work and into arbitration after a sudden walkout disrupted global travel. The intervention came less than 12 hours into the strike, which stranded more than 100,000 travelers worldwide. Both sides remain far apart on pay and working conditions.
Air Canada Strike and Arbitration Order: Quick Looks
- Canada intervenes hours after Air Canada attendants strike, forcing arbitration.
- Over 100,000 travelers stranded; full service may take days to restore.
- Minister Patty Hajdu says strike too risky amid U.S. tariffs.
- Union calls move unconstitutional, claiming right to strike violated.
- Arbitration keeps current contract in effect until new deal is reached.
- Business Council of Canada, Chamber of Commerce supported intervention.
- Stranded passengers face costly rebooking, limited alternatives.
- Union cites low wages, unpaid work, gender pay disparity as key issues.
- Air Canada offered 38% compensation increase over four years; union rejected.
- Government faces criticism for frequently intervening in transportation strikes.
Deep Look: Canada Forces Air Canada Flight Attendants Back to Work Amid Travel Disruptions
TORONTO (AP) — The Canadian government intervened Saturday to end a sudden Air Canada strike that left more than 100,000 travelers stranded worldwide, ordering the country’s largest airline and its 10,000 striking flight attendants back to work and into binding arbitration.
The move came less than 12 hours after the strike began, underscoring the government’s determination to prevent prolonged disruption at the height of the summer travel season.
Government Steps In Quickly
Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu announced the back-to-work order, citing the economic risks of a prolonged shutdown—particularly amid new U.S. tariffs on Canada. She emphasized that while negotiations had collapsed, arbitration was the only way forward.
“The talks broke down. The parties are not closer to resolving key issues, and they need help with an arbitrator,” Hajdu said.
She added that a full restoration of flights could take several days, as the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) oversees the process. Hajdu also extended the existing collective agreement until arbitration delivers a ruling.
Union Outrage: ‘Our Right to Strike Was Violated’
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), which represents the flight attendants, denounced the intervention. Union president Wesley Lesosky accused the Liberal government of siding with Air Canada.
“The government is rewarding Air Canada’s refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted,” Lesosky said.
Union spokesman Hugh Pouliot said attendants would remain on picket lines “until further notice,” but acknowledged the order legally forces them back to work.
Flight attendant Natasha Stea, a CUPE local president, stressed that members were not being unreasonable but fighting for fair pay and recognition of unpaid duties, such as pre-flight work.
“We cannot work for free,” she said, pointing out that Air Canada pilots recently received a major raise, raising concerns about gender equity since flight attendants are predominantly women.
Global Travel Disruptions
The strike—launched around 1 a.m. EDT Saturday—immediately paralyzed Air Canada’s operations, affecting about 130,000 passengers per day across 700 daily flights. Roughly 25,000 Canadians were stranded abroad within hours.
At London’s Heathrow Airport, passenger Keelin Pringnitz described the frustration of being told the only option was rerouting to the U.S. without onward support:
“Nobody seemed interested—people were exasperated. It felt absurd to strand us in another country.”
In Montreal, 21-year-old Alex Laroche and his girlfriend feared losing their $8,000 European vacation, with nonrefundable lodging and flights canceled. Attempts to rebook revealed fares on other carriers costing more than double.
Air Canada COO Mark Nasr warned it could take a full week to restore normal operations.
Business and Political Pressure
The Business Council of Canada and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce had both urged Ottawa to impose arbitration. Chamber VP Matthew Holmes welcomed the move:
“Every hour counts, given Air Canada says it will need up to a week for its network to be operational again. Nearly a million passengers could be impacted.”
Experts note that government intervention in transport strikes is common. Carleton University professor Ian Lee said Ottawa has stepped in 45 times since 1950.
“Canada is too vast, and flying is too essential. Strikes in transportation are simply too disruptive,” Lee said.
Just last year, the government forced two major railroads into arbitration during a labor stoppage. That union is now suing, alleging Ottawa undermined workers’ bargaining power.
Core Issues: Pay and Inflation
‘The dispute stems from eight months of negotiations over wages and working conditions. Air Canada offered a 38% increase in compensation over four years, including benefits and pensions, which the airline claimed would make attendants the best compensated in Canada.
But the union rejected the proposal, arguing the 8% raise in year one does not keep up with inflation and fails to address unpaid pre- and post-flight duties.
“Their wage is barely livable,” said Laroche, the Montreal traveler who initially blamed the union but later expressed sympathy.
For Air Canada’s 10,000 flight attendants, the battle is as much about respect and equity as it is about paychecks.
What Comes Next
With arbitration now mandated, the CIRB will appoint an arbitrator to decide the contract terms. Until then, the existing agreement remains in force.
Passengers whose travel has been disrupted can request refunds or limited rebooking through Air Canada’s website and mobile app, though the airline warned capacity is scarce due to peak summer demand.
As Air Canada works to reset its schedule and stranded travelers scramble for alternatives, the dispute highlights a broader tension in Canada’s transportation industry: how to balance workers’ rights with the nation’s heavy reliance on air travel.
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