A Canadian government agency says the Air Canada flight attendants’ strike is illegal, and has ordered flight attendants to get back to work by noon today (18AUG, 2025).
This morning, Air Canada said the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) has declared ongoing strike activity by the company’s 10,000 flight attendants illegal and has ordered the leadership of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) to direct its members to return to work.
The Globe and Mail said the CIRB has called CUPE’s defiance “unlawful.”
“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,” said a directive signed by Jennifer Webster, vice-chairperson of the CIRB.
The union was vague in its response. “Sit tight, it’s not over,” a CUPE spokesperson told Open Jaw in an email.
Prime Minister Mark Carney today said it’s critical that Air Canada flight attendants are compensated “equitably at all times, fairly at all times.
Speaking on his way into the House of Commons, Carney said it’s disappointing that the union and Air Canada have yet to reach an agreement.
“We are in a situation where, literally, hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action. I urge both parties to resolve this as quickly as possible.”
He adds that Minister of Jobs and Families Patty Hadju will “have more to say,” but didn’t specify when, CTV News reports.
On Sunday, Air Canada said it hoped to get some planes back in the air as early as 4 pm Monday afternoon (18AUG). But CUPE has filed an appeal to the Federal Court of Canada asking it to overturn the back-to-work order issued Sunday by CIRB.
"We will be challenging this blatantly unconstitutional order (by CIRB) that violates the Charter rights of 10,000 flight attendants, 70% of whom are women, and 100% of whom are forced to do hours of unpaid work by their employer every time they come to work," CUPE said.
A statement from the Canadian Labour Congress late Sunday evening said the “heads of Canada’s unions” met in an emergency session to stand behind Air Canada’s flight attendants, the Toronto Star reports.
Meanwhile, labour experts appear unsure of what will happen if CUPE’ defies the current back-to-work order. It could lead to fines, or even criminal prosecution in some cases.
"The penalties could be significant" for the union, labour law expert Adam King told CBC News in an interview.
Air Canada Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Mark Nasr told Open Jaw in a video interview on Sunday he fully understands how attendants want to support their union.
“But we are a country of laws. And we expect CUPE to follow the law and we expect our flight attendants to be supported in doing so."
“We’re up to almost a half a million customers that are facing some kind of disruption,” and “We have to get the planes back in the air, we have to get Canadians moving again. And for that we need CUPE to end their illegal strike directive which is going out to Air Canada flight attendants,” he said.
CUPE has failed the flight attendants terribly by not reaching an agreement after so many months of negotiation. Now they are putting their lives at risks by telling them to defy the back to work order. The flight attendants need a full refund of all their union dues because this is a bunch of clowns. I blame CUPE for the mess the country, affected pax, AC and all supporting travel agents are in right now.