Air Canada Strike Continues, CUPE Rejects Back-to-Work Order

On August 13, 2025, approximately 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants represented by CUPE issued a 72-hour strike notice.

On August 16, the flight attendants began striking. The next day, the Canadian government directed the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) to impose binding arbitration and order the workers back to work by 2 pm ET on Sunday, August 17.

CUPE refused to comply, denouncing the directive as unconstitutional. This forced Air Canada to delay its plan to restart flights scheduled for August 17, instead targeting a resumption by the evening of August 18.

It is highly unusual for a union to defy a legally binding back-to-work mandate issued by the government. CUPE argues that forced arbitration undermines their Charter rights, creating an unprecedented labor standoff.

The flight attendants’ strike centers on compensation for ground-related duties, such as boarding and time lost to delays. Despite Air Canada’s 38 percent compensation increase offer over four years, the union insists it's insufficient due to inflation.

CUPE continues to pressure Air Canada back to negotiations, rejecting government-imposed terms and seeking fair solutions.

Photo by Juan Ortiz on Unsplash