Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants that are on strike will not return to work on Sunday, defying a government order to resume operations by this afternoon, according to their union.
“We will be challenging this blatantly unconstitutional order that violates the charter rights of 10,000 flight attendants, 70 percent of whom are women, and 100 percent of whom are forced to do hours of unpaid work by their employer every time they come to work,” the Canadian Union of Public Employees said in a statement to media outlets. “We remain on strike. We demand a fair, negotiated contract and to be compensated for all hours worked.”
Air Canada, whose collective agreement with the flight attendants expired in March, said Sunday the Canada Industrial Relations Board had directed the carrier to resume operations and have the striking workers return to their posts by 2 p.m. Eastern time.
This is a breaking news story and will be updated with new information.
