Air Canada Flight Attendants Reject Back-to-Work Order, Stay on Strike

August 21, 2025

Let’s be honest: Air Canada flight attendants are done playing nice. In an industry that profits off their labor while barely paying them for half of it, they’ve finally hit their limit — and now, they’re striking, staying out, and straight-up ignoring a government-mandated back-to-work order. And you know what? They’re right. This isn’t just another airline labor dispute. This is a group of fed-up workers who’ve had enough of corporate games, political interference, and being treated like disposable service staff when they’re trained safety professionals — many of whom make less than minimum wage in their first year. Yes, less than minimum wage. In Canada. In 2025. Flight attendants at Air Canada aren’t paid until the plane starts moving — meaning they’re working the gate, prepping cabins, managing to board, answering questions, dealing with delays, and ensuring passenger safety for free. It’s an open secret in the aviation world, and it’s been normalized for far too long. But this time, the workers aren’t going back quietly. On August 13, their union gave a 72-hour strike notice. The airline hit back with a lockout threat. By August 16, the picket lines were up. By the next morning, the Canadian Industrial Relations Board tried to shut it down with a back-to-work order and forced arbitration. Air Canada probably assumed that would be the end of it. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. The union rejected the order outright, calling it unconstitutional and anti-worker. In a fiery statement, one union leader even said he’d rather go to jail than tell his members to stand down. That’s not drama — that’s resolve. The government, clearly caught off guard by the union’s refusal, is now scrambling to play mediator while pretending it didn’t just try to stomp on legally protected strike rights. Meanwhile, Air Canada is watching flights get canceled, customers get pissed, and its stock price wobbles. Let’s talk about that offer Air Canada made — a “38% raise” over four years. Sounds generous, right? Until you read the fine print. According to the union, that number is smoke and mirrors. When you factor in inflation and the actual base wages, the real increase is more like 17%. Entry-level flight attendants would still be bringing home paychecks that insult their training and responsibilities. They’re the ones handling medical emergencies midair, breaking up in-flight fights, managing unruly passengers — and they can’t even afford rent in the cities they’re based in. It’s not just about money. It’s about fairness. Respect. Being treated like the professionals they are. That’s what’s really on strike here: dignity. And the public? Surprisingly, a lot of them are on the attendants' side. Scroll through social media and you’ll see frustrated travelers, sure — but also a ton of people saying “Good for them.” People are finally realizing that Air Canada flight attendants aren’t just glorified servers in the sky. They’re frontline workers, and they’ve been underpaid, overworked, and overlooked for years. So what happens now? Talks have restarted, but the union isn’t blinking. Not yet. And honestly, they shouldn’t. Because if they cave now, it sends a message that legal orders trump labor rights — and that standing up for yourself just isn’t worth it. This strike isn’t just about better pay or shorter hours. It’s about changing a broken system — one where the people doing the hardest, most stressful work are constantly told to be grateful they even have a job. Well, gratitude doesn’t pay the bills. And Air Canada flight attendants aren’t settling anymore.