In a statement, Canada’s largest airline claimed that the union “illegally instructed” workers to “disobey an order from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board.”
The board, following government intervention, ordered striking airline employees to return to work by 2:00 PM local time (7:00 PM in Lisbon).
The Canadian airline planned to resume flights tonight following this order but will now only recommence on Monday, according to the news agency AP.
On Saturday, the Canadian government compelled the airline and the union representing flight attendants to enter arbitration after a strike that had already affected approximately 130,000 travelers worldwide.
In addition to wage increases, flight attendants are demanding compensation for working hours outside of flights, including during boarding.
On Friday, the union rejected the airline’s request to enter government arbitration, arguing that it would eliminate the right to strike and allow a mediator to set the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
