Flight Attendants Defy Government Strike Order

By Elke Porter | WBN News Vancouver | August 17, 2025
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Union Challenges Back-to-Work Directive as Unconstitutional

More than 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants continue their strike today, openly defying a federal government order that directed them to return to work by 2 p.m. Sunday. The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) announced its members will challenge the back-to-work directive, calling it unconstitutional and a violation of workers' fundamental right to strike.

The defiance forced Air Canada to cancel approximately 240 flights scheduled for Sunday afternoon and suspend plans to resume limited operations. The airline now says it will attempt to restart flights Monday evening, though the ongoing strike makes this timeline uncertain.

Government Intervention Sparks Constitutional Challenge

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu invoked Section 107 of the Canada Labour Code Saturday, ordering binding arbitration between the airline and union after flight attendants walked off the job early Saturday morning. The strike had already stranded more than 100,000 travellers worldwide during peak summer travel season.

CUPE representatives argue the government intervention sets a dangerous precedent for Canadian labour relations, effectively removing workers' constitutional right to strike. Legal experts note this contentious section of Canadian law has been increasingly used to halt work stoppages, raising questions about the balance between workers' rights and economic disruption.

The Stakes: Passengers vs. Workers' Rights

The labour dispute centers on wages, working conditions, and what union representatives describe as excessive unpaid overtime. Flight attendants, predominantly women, report working hours of uncompensated time weekly while airline executives receive substantial salaries and bonuses.

Air Canada began the weekend by issuing lockout notices alongside the strike announcement, suspending operations across its network. The preemptive move affected travellers with long-awaited vacation plans, wedding celebrations, and other time-sensitive commitments.

Unpaid Overtime: A Widespread Issue

The flight attendants' grievances about unpaid overtime echo complaints across numerous sectors where workers routinely exceed their contracted hours without compensation. Teachers spend evenings grading papers and weekends preparing lessons, IT programmers debug systems during off-hours, and charity staff work extended hours driven by mission rather than fair pay.

Healthcare workers, social workers, and retail managers similarly face expectations to work beyond their scheduled shifts without additional compensation, making the Air Canada dispute part of a broader conversation about work-life balance and fair compensation across the Canadian economy.

Which Side Are You On?

This standoff forces Canadians to choose sides in a fundamental question about workers' rights versus economic convenience. Should flight attendants accept government-imposed arbitration after months of stalled negotiations? Or do workers deserve the right to strike, even when it disrupts holiday travel and special occasions?

The constitutional challenge now moves to the courts, while thousands of passengers remain stranded and workers continue picketing outside airports across the country.

Union Challenges Back-to-Work Directive as Unconstitutional

Government Intervention Sparks Constitutional Challenge

The Stakes: Passengers vs. Workers' Rights

Unpaid Overtime: A Widespread Issue

Which Side Are You On?

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