Even after the Canada Industrial Relations Board declared the strike “illegal,” the union that represents Air Canada flight attendants said it will not comply with a back-to-work order. After the union disobeyed a government back-to-work order given over the weekend, the independent federal tribunal declared the cabin crews’ job action, which is currently on its third day, unlawful on Monday.
Air Canada is terribly mistaken if they believe that planes will be flying this afternoon,” said Mark Hancock, president of the Canadian Union of Public Employees. Tens of thousands of customers have been left stranded after flights were canceled on Saturday due to the strike by over 10,000 flight attendants for Canada’s biggest airline.
A note posted on the airline’s website as of Monday afternoon stated that its operations “remain suspended,” despite its earlier announcement that it intended to restart flights by Monday evening. Following the Canada Industrial Relations Board’s ruling, the union was instructed to return its members to their jobs by 12:00 EST (16:00GMT) on Monday.
What repercussions the CUPE now faces for their disobedience are unknown. Mr. Hancock stated during a press conference that the union is prepared to take whatever consequences for its noncompliance, including monetary fines and jail term.
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