***BREAKING: CUPE says it will defy an order by the CIRB to return to work today.
Air Canada will restart operations Sunday after the federal government issued a directive to end a widespread flight attendants’ strike that resulted in more than 700 flight cancellations. But it could take 10 days for full service to be restored.
Acting at the request of Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu, the Canadian Industrial Relation Board at mid-day on Saturday ordered Air Canada to resume operations and for Air Canada flight attendants to return to work by 2pm ET, 17AUG. The airline confirmed its plan to resume flights following the decision.
The flight attendant union however has resisted any back-to-work order, writing in numerous social media posts “the strike won’t be over until we say it is.” The union website also suggests picket lines will be in place at some Canadian airports on Sunday.
According to the carrier, it will take seven to ten days for operations to normalize.
“Because the airline had implemented its shut-down and suspended operations at 01:30 EDT on August 16, aircraft and crew are out of position vis-à-vis the schedule. Restart of operations will begin immediately, with first flights this evening, but Air Canada expects it will take several days before its operations return to normal," airline officials said.
During this process, some flights will be canceled over the next seven to ten days until the schedule is stabilized.”
As of 8 am EDT on Sunday, Flight Aware was reporting 485 cancelled Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights today; roughly two-thirds of all routes.
Air Canada last week asked Ottawa to jump in and require binding arbitration in the dispute. The union refused to go along, saying such a decision would likely result in a deal that favours the airline.
"The Liberal government is rewarding Air Canada's refusal to negotiate fairly by giving them exactly what they wanted," the union wrote in a statement Saturday afternoon.
The two sides are set to return to the table this week, the CBC reports.
