The Canadian government has ordered Air Canada’s striking flight attendants back to work and into arbitration, ending a walkout that disrupted travel for more than 100,000 passengers worldwide at the height of the summer holiday season.

Federal Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said Saturday the economy could not risk prolonged disruption, particularly amid U.S. tariffs on Canada. The move came less than 12 hours after about 10,000 flight attendants walked off the job.

“The talks broke down. It is clear that the parties are not any closer to resolving some of the key issues that remain and they will need help with the arbitrator,” Hajdu said, noting full resumption of service could take days.

Union leaders accused the government of trampling workers’ constitutional right to strike. Wesley Lesosky, president of the Air Canada Component of the Canadian Union of Public Employees, said Ottawa rewarded the airline’s refusal to negotiate fairly.

Air Canada operates about 700 flights daily and had canceled more than 670 by Saturday afternoon, with further cancellations already scheduled. The airline warned it may take up to a week to restore full operations, while travelers continue to face delays and cancellations.

The government has ordered the Canada Industrial Relations Board to extend the current collective agreement until arbitration concludes. Passengers whose flights are canceled will be eligible for full refunds or alternative travel arrangements, though the airline cautioned options are limited due to peak demand.

The contract dispute, ongoing for eight months, centers on wages and unpaid work hours. The airline has offered a 38% compensation increase over four years, while the union argues it falls short, particularly amid inflation. Flight attendants say they deserve parity with pilots, who secured a substantial pay raise last year.

Business groups welcomed the government’s intervention, stressing the impact on passengers and cargo, while labor advocates criticized Ottawa for undermining union leverage. Similar government action last year forced Canada’s major railroads into arbitration after a stoppage.

For many travelers, frustrations mounted. Passengers reported being stranded overseas, forced to pay out of pocket for hotels, or facing days-long waits for rebooked flights. While some expressed solidarity with flight attendants, others criticized Air Canada’s lack of communication.

Despite the government’s order, the union said workers would remain on picket lines “until further notice” as it considers next steps.

Source: Agency