Air Canada Strike Escalates: Flight Attendants Defy Back-to-Work Order, More Flights Cancelled
Air Canada flight attendant strike continues despite government directive. More flights grounded, passengers stranded amid wage disputes.
Air Canada Disruption Widens: Flight Attendants Continue Strike Despite Court Order
TORONTO, August 18, 2025 – Air Canada’s turmoil deepened today as its largest flight attendant union refused to comply with a government-ordered return to work, prompting the airline to cancel additional flights and prolong travel chaos.
The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), representing some 10,000 flight attendants, termed the arbitrator-mandated order "unconstitutional," accusing it of protecting corporate profits at the expense of workers' rights. Despite a directive issued by the Canada Industrial Relations Board, the strike continued, forcing Air Canada to suspend plans to resume operations until at least Monday evening.
Thousands of passengers remain stranded at key hubs like Toronto Pearson Airport, facing confusion over rescheduled departures and minimal clarity from the airline. Some report being left to "figure it out for ourselves," according to one traveler.
The strike—Air Canada's first involving cabin crew since 1985—has grounded over 700 daily flights and affected more than 100,000 passengers each day.
The dispute centers on pay for unpaid "groundwork" duties—boarding, deplaning, and airport waiting time—that flight attendants currently aren’t compensated for. Despite a proposed 38 percent wage boost over four years, the union dismissed the offer as inadequate, especially given inflation and a majority-female workforce.
The federal government faces limited options amid Parliament’s summer recess. Legal enforcement through courts or emergency legislation are both possible, though neither path is straightforward.
Bottom line: Air Canada’s operational restart remains on hold. Workers remain on strike, the union is mounting a legal challenge, and travelers are caught in limbo as the dispute drags on.
Transition and Flow Enhancements
♦ Opening with urgency: Leads with escalating cancellations and defiance for immediate reader impact.
♦ Contextual breakdown:
♠ Who is involved: CUPE and Air Canada.
♠ What’s happening: strike, back-to-work order defied, flights cancelled.
♠ Why: wage and unpaid workload disputes.
♠ Where and impact: key airports, thousands stranded, global routes affected.
♠ What’s next: legal showdown, government action pending.
♦ Storytelling cues: Traveler quotes and statistics ground the narrative in real-world effects.
