STORY: The Canadian government on Saturday (August 16) moved to end a strike by Air Canada's cabin crews and require binding arbitration to break their contract impasse, an action that the country's largest carrier had sought but unionized flight attendants fiercely opposed.

Minutes after the announcement, the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) blasted the government's decision.

Henly Larden, an Air Canada flight attendant and a vice-president at CUPE, called the government’s move "incredibly disgusting."

"Air Canada should come and join us in good faith and address the matters that really resonate with our members,” a visibly emotional Larden said in a shaken voice at Vancouver airport while surrounded by dozens of demonstrators holding placards.

Thousands of Air Canada flight attendants walked off the job just before 1 a.m. EDT (0500 GMT), after months of negotiations over a new contract. In anticipation of the stoppage, the airline canceled nearly all of its 700 daily flights, forcing more than 100,000 travelers to scramble for alternatives or stay put.

The most contentious issue in the contract negotiations has been the union's demand for compensation for time spent on the ground between flights and when helping passengers board. Attendants are currently paid only when their plane is moving.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu said at a news conference she had asked the Canada Industrial Relations Board to impose binding arbitration on both sides and order an immediate end to the strike. Still, it may take days before the board grants the request and for the airline to fully restore its operations.

Air Canada had asked Prime Minister Mark Carney's minority Liberal government to make the request, but the Canadian Union of Public Employees said it wanted a negotiated solution, as binding arbitration would take pressure off the airline.

The Canada Labour Code gives the government the right to ask the industrial relations board to impose binding arbitration in the interests of protecting the economy.

Under Justin Trudeau, Carney's predecessor, the government intervened quickly last year to head off rail and dock strikes that threatened to cripple the economy.

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: RICHMOND, BRITISH COLUMBIA, CANADA (AUGUST 16, 2025) (REUTERS – Access all)

1. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS, ARRIVING TO AIRPORT

2. AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CUPE LOCAL 4094 HENLY LARDEN CHEERING CROWD OF DEMONSTRATORS

3. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CUPE LOCAL 4094, HENLY LARDEN, SAYING:

“We are incredibly disgusted that the Liberal government has been speaking out of both sides of its mouth. They said that the bargaining table was the appropriate place to make this address and here they are having invoked (section) 107.”

4. DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS AND CHANTING

5. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CUPE LOCAL 4094, HENLY LARDEN, SAYING:

“I'm incredibly disappointed. As you can see from everyone behind us. This is not just flight attendants. This is the transportation industry. And I assure you this is going to start some fire.”

6. LARDEN BEFORE MEDIA WITH DEMONSTRATORS BEHIND

7. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CUPE LOCAL 4094, HENLY LARDEN, SAYING:

“Air Canada should come and join us in good faith and address the matters that really resonate with our members. Unpaid work. Addressing this unfair, un-Canadian aspect of unpaid work in 2025.”

8. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS AND CHANTING

9. (SOUNDBITE) (English) AIR CANADA FLIGHT ATTENDANT AND ELECTED VICE PRESIDENT OF CUPE LOCAL 4094, HENLY LARDEN, SAYING:

“We still have immense hope that Air Canada will do what they should do. Their Canadian duty. Come to us. Pay us fairly, pay us for unpaid work. And move forward.”

10. LARDEN CONVERSING WITH MEDIA

11. STRANDED PASSENGER WITH HIS SON RESTING AT THE AIRPORT BESIDE AIR CANADA OFFICE

12. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED STRANDED PASSENGER, SAYING:

“I come here from Taiwan. How bad. You see.”

13. STRANDED PASSENGER INTRODUCING HIS SON TO THE CAMERA

14. STRANDED PASSENGER AND SON RESTING ON THE FLOOR BY AIR CANADA OFFICE

15. (SOUNDBITE) (English) UNIDENTIFIED STRANDED PASSENGER, SAYING:

“5 days, they (Air Canada) think.”

16. VARIOUS OF STRANDED PASSENGER AND HIS SON RESTING ON THE FLOOR BY AIR CANADA OFFICE

17. VARIOUS OF TODDLER RUNNING AROUND 'YVR' SIGN

18. TRAVELLERS WAITING INSIDE AIRPORT

19. VARIOUS OF STRANDED PASSENGERS SPEAKING TO AIR CANADA EMPLOYEE AT CHECK-IN

20. VARIOUS OF DEMONSTRATORS HOLDING PLACARDS AT THE SIDE OF ROAD NEARBY THE AIRPORT

21. VARIOUS OF PASSENGERS AT AIR CANADA CHECK-IN

22. VARIOUS OF DEPARTURES BOARD SCREEN

23. SIGN INDICATING 'LABOUR DISRUPTION' DISPLAYED AT AIR CANADA CHECK-IN

24. VARIOUS OF EMPTY AIR CANADA CHECK-IN AREA

25. SIGN DISPLAYED AT AIR CANADA CHECK-IN, READING (English):

"Labour Disruption. Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights are impacted by a labour disruption affecting flights over the coming days. We're working to provide the best available options for all our customers, and we are truly sorry for the inconvenience."