CIRB Declares Air Canada Flight Attendants’ Strike Illegal

The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) on Monday declared the strike by 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants illegal and ordered them to immediately return to work, The Associated Press reported. The strike — now in its third day — has disrupted an estimated 130,000 travellers on a daily basis during the busy summer season, the report said. Despite earlier orders to resume work and submit to arbitration, the union defied the directive, prompting the board to step in.

In its written decision, the board reportedly said, “The members of the union’s bargaining unit are directed to resume the performance of their duties immediately and to refrain from engaging in unlawful strike activities.” According to the report, the union was also instructed to notify its members by noon Monday to resume duties.

Union Defies Back-to-Work Orders

The strike began early Saturday morning, with flight attendants walking off the job just as Air Canada said it would lock them out of airports. Earlier, the CIRB had ordered workers back by 2 pm Sunday after federal government intervention, but the union refused to comply. Air Canada had planned to resume flights Sunday evening but pushed the restart to Monday evening due to the strike.

Meanwhile, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) National President Mark Hancock rejected the orders, reportedly saying outside Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, “Our members are not going back to work. We are saying no.” Outside the airport, flight attendants chanted, “Don’t blame me, blame AC.”

Contract Dispute and Govt Involvement

The strike stems from a bitter contract dispute between Air Canada and the CUPE, which has dragged on for about eight months. Both sides remain far apart on pay and other issues, including unpaid work done when planes are not in the air. Air Canada’s latest offer promises a 38% increase in total compensation over four years, claiming it would make its flight attendants the best paid in Canada. However, the union has rejected the offer, asserting that the proposed raise in the first year is not enough to keep up with rising inflation.

According to the report, flight attendants rejected government-directed arbitration, which would have allowed a third party to decide contract terms. Last year, similar arbitration was forced on Canada’s railroads, sparking legal challenges from unions.

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