The day could still be chaotic for travelers, while the labor conflict between Air Canada and the union representing its on -board agents continues.
Air Canada, represented by the Canadian Public Service Syndicate (SCFP), count on the picking lines today, while the dispute of a federal return to work is continued.
The SCFP said it had filed an appeal to the Federal Court on Sunday against an order from the Canadian Industrial Relations Council which required that more than 10,000 on-board agents resume work from 2 p.m. (HE) that afternoon.
This ordinance was issued after the Minister of Labor, Patty Hajdu, sent the two parties to compulsory arbitration on Saturday, saying that she was intervening due to the repercussions of the conflict on Canadians and the economy.
Appearance of conflict of interest
The SCFP held demonstrations in the main airports of Toronto, Calgary, Montreal and Vancouver on Sunday, accusing Ms. Hajdu of having given in to the requirements of Air Canada.
What is more, the union doubts the impartiality of Maryse Tremblay, appointed in May 2025 to the Presidency of the Canadian Council for Industrial Relations (CCRI), and who previously worked from 1998 to 2004 in the legal service of Air Canada, alongside Arielle Meloul-Wechsler (today vice-president of human relations of the transporter). “And it is this same CCRI that imposes enforceable arbitration: suspended strike, no voting of on -board agents,” pleads the SCFP.
“On the ethical level, deciding should not rule on a file involving his former employer: even without fault, the appearance of conflict of interest is real, and the risk preferably – conscious or not – for former colleagues exists, and that undermines confidence,” said the SCFP.
Report of postponed flights
Air Canada said on Sunday that it would postpone its flight resumption plan on Monday evening, even if the union said that employees will remain on strike as long as a “fair negotiated collective agreement” will not be concluded.
The strike officially started shortly before 1 a.m. (HE) on Saturday, and Air Canada replied in lockout about 30 minutes later.
The airline reported approximately 940 flights canceled on Sunday due to the work stoppage, leaving thousands of travelers trying to save their travel projects.
Lifting union shields
The conflict has aroused strong negative reactions from union groups across Canada – including FTQ in Quebec – which criticize the Liberal government’s decision to order on -board agents to return to work.
In a statement published late Sunday evening, the Canada Labor Congress said that “the country’s unions leaders” gathered in emergency session to express their support for Air Canada on -board agents.
The group described Ms. Hajdu’s intervention as an unconstitutional attack on workers’ rights “and said that Canadian trade union organizations unanimously ask the federal government to withdraw its intervention.
The press release added that the unions were ready to “coordinate a response campaign” and promote and organize financial contributions to cover legal costs and other expenses related to the decision of on -board agents to defy the order of Ms. Hajdu.
“The union movement is united and determined, and we will not allow these rights protected by the Charter to be flouted,” could read in the press release.
The CCRI declares the illegal strike
On Monday morning, the CCRI said that the strike of Air Canada on -board agents was illegal while ordering the leaders of the SCFP to enjoin the on -board agents to return to work.
In his decision, the CCRI said that the union and its leaders should immediately end all the activities declaring or authorized an illegal strike and order the members of the negotiation unit to resume their functions.
Members of the union’s negotiation unit must also immediately resume their functions and refrain from participating in illegal strike activities.
The union and its leaders must publish a written notice, through their website or by other means, to all members by 12 p.m. (HE) on August 18, 2025, indicating that it revokes its declaration or its authorization for strike activities and that all members are required to resume their functions.
More details to follow.
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