TORONTO — The strike by Air Canada flight attendants has intensified after the union, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), defied a government-mandated return-to-work order, leading to the cancellation of hundreds of flights. The dispute, which has caused significant economic disruption, shows no sign of immediate resolution.

CUPE, which represents 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants, initiated a 72-hour strike on August 16 following a breakdown in wage negotiations. A central point of contention in the months-long talks has been compensation for non-flight work hours.

In an effort to mitigate the economic fallout from the strike, Canadian Labour Minister Patty Hajdu issued an order for a mandatory return to work. The Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB) followed up by ordering both the airline and the union to resume operations by 2 p.m. on August 17.

While Air Canada initially announced it would resume operations, it reversed course, stating that the union had issued an "illegal directive" to its members to refuse the CIRB's order. CUPE, however, has stood firm, accusing the Mark Carney Liberal government of unfairly siding with the airline. The union stated that the government's action would not guarantee labor peace, as airlines would now have less incentive to negotiate, knowing the government would intervene.

Despite the ongoing dispute, Air Canada has announced plans to resume flights by the evening of August 18. However, the airline cautioned that it could take 7 to 10 days to fully restore its flight schedule. The strike has grounded approximately 700 daily flights operated by Air Canada and its low-cost subsidiary, Air Canada Rouge.