Air Canada's flights disrupted due to union disobeying work resumption directive, impacting approximately 130,000 travelers.

Air Canada flights remain grounded as a strike by 10,000 flight attendants, represented by the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE), continues to disrupt travel plans during the peak summer holiday season.

The strike, which began less than 12 hours ago, has already impacted approximately 130,000 travellers daily. Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu directed the striking flight attendants to return to their jobs, but the union members, led by National President Mark Hancock, have stated that they will not go back to work until their demands are met.

The union members are refusing to comply with the return-to-work order mandated by the Canadian Industrial Relations Board (CIRB), which states that airline staff must return to work by 2 p.m. on Sunday. The CIRB, an independent tribunal, has not declared the return-to-work order binding for the striking flight attendants union, and there are no search results indicating when this declaration was made.

The union members are labeling the order as unconstitutional and are planning not to return to work on Tuesday either. Union members have been heard chanting, "Don't blame me, blame AC," outside Pearson International Airport in Toronto, where Hancock tore up a copy of the back-to-work order.

Air Canada has suspended its plans to resume operations due to the strike. The airline is offering full refunds to those impacted by the disruption via its website or mobile application. Alternative options for rescheduling trips through other Canadian and foreign airlines are available when possible, but flights on those airlines may be fully booked due to the summer travel peak.

The union rejected Air Canada's proposal for government-directed arbitration in the escalation of a contentious contract dispute on Friday. The ongoing strike has raised concerns about the impact on Canada's economy, especially with the US having imposed new tariffs on Canada. Hajdu stated that with the country unable to afford to risk its economy, a swift resolution to the strike is necessary.

As the strike continues, travellers are advised to monitor their flights and consider alternative travel arrangements if necessary. Air Canada has not yet announced a new date for the resumption of flights.

Air Canada's flights disrupted due to union disobeying work resumption directive, impacting approximately 130,000 travelers.