Air Canada Cancels Flights as Union Defies Back-to-Work Order
In a significant escalation of tensions, Air Canada has canceled hundreds of flights this past Sunday, leading to widespread travel disruptions as the airline grapples with an ongoing strike. The situation stems from the flight attendants’ union’s decision to defy a back-to-work order mandated by the Canadian government. This move has left countless passengers stranded, with the airline struggling to resume operations in the face of the labor unrest.
Heidi Petracek reports from Halifax, detailing the chaos at airports as travelers face flight cancellations and delays. The union’s stance underscores the continuing struggles of workers advocating for better conditions, illustrating a growing trend of labor disputes within essential services. The government’s attempt to enforce a return to work highlights the complexities of managing labor relations while balancing public expectations.
In a parallel arena of global politics, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy convened with European leaders over the weekend to firm up strategies ahead of his upcoming meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney participated virtually, reflecting Canada’s ongoing commitment to supporting Ukraine amidst its challenges.
Meanwhile, back in Nova Scotia, businesses near popular hiking trails are feeling the pinch due to ongoing bans on forest access amid a challenging wildfire season. With tourism usually peaking this time of year, the restrictions have stifled local commerce, leaving business owners anxious about their future as the summer season progresses.
As these stories unfold, they illustrate a landscape fraught with challenges—whether it’s labor disputes affecting travel plans or environmental concerns impacting local economies. The coming days will be pivotal as both Air Canada and Nova Scotia navigate these pressing issues.
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Video “Global National: Aug. 17, 2025 | Air Canada cancels flights as union defies back-to-work order” was uploaded on 08/18/2025 to Youtube Channel Global News
Do we really want our diet pepsi served to us by a person who was literally forced to serve you?
One has to wonder where are all the Unions in support and how many Unions workers are crossing these picket lines?
If you belong to a Union you should not cross the line. Get a bus, a rental car , another airline, and if you are nearby,join the line.
Air Canada will hire Tim Horton's employees and pay them minimum wage to scab for striking flight attendants…
CIRB and Air Canada on one team , ( huge conflict not to mention broken biased system), with the flight attendants on the other.side. Lets guess who the court supports?
POWER TO THE WORKERS PROTESTING AT AIR CANADA DONT SETTLE FOR ANY LESS ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️🇨🇦KEEP ON FIGHTING FOR BETTER LIVING WAGES!!
Pierre Pollievre is nothing but love. I hope he wins and be top notch for all Canadians.
Passengers need to sue Air Canada along with their union.
People can argue all they want
and there are no saints anywhere here
but a government cannot allow an order to be defied
there is law and order on our land that all must live by
Junior flight attendants are paid less than minimum wage, I fully agree and understand as how are they expected to live on less than 2000 dollars pretax?! Foreign refugees are entitled to significantly more than this to sit at home and do nothing
Air Canada flight attendance are some of the worst. Lazy and rude. Replace them all, it's a win win!
Keep striking get your rights❤
Monkeys are stranded. Lol!
All these flight attendants must be fired.
If one don't like how you get paid, just find a new job!!! You all knew how much you get paid when you first apply for a job! You knew your work hours, YOU knew what you sign up for! GET BACK TO WORK!!!
I’m crying watching that news report about the father who lost his son in the car crash. I can’t imagine listening to the whole presentation.
Chicken or pasta, how will we survive
People over profits.
fire em all, they useless lazy rude and over paid as it is, the offer they got sounded more then reasonable, i know many people who will take their job tmr at their current rates
💖 …just an observation… when the protesting employees were displaying signs at Air Canada Management's original press conference, note the "cell phone video recorder" capturing the offenders trailed by the "executive type", hands clasped firm behind his back making strategic eye contact with each individual.
Almost laughable as, that is the "exact arrogant attitude" displayed by Management at Christmas party settings in mid-80's, lined against the wall like crows pointing out pilots/stewardesses "cutting loose", their displeasure visibly evident.
wonder how many of "those" are "sunshine list type members"?
Feel sorry for You. 💖
🍁💖🎶🙃
My family (wife and 3 daughters) is blocked in Italy… I have already bought 4 new tickets to return them home (not before than next Saturday and today is Sunday)…. I am furious with Air Canada and I support the workers again Executives which clearly do not deserve their huge salaries. It is too easy to get unreasonable bonuses without paying the real workers onboard! Shame on Air Canada and shame on the Government that decide to support the wrong people
It's a sad world when people have to resort to striking to get what they deserve fairly.
Air Canada is such a joke I bought tickets from them to support Canada instead of a US airline but at this point I feel like Air Canada is not trying to support Canadian… Won't be giving them any business any time soon
Travelers have plenty of notice. You live by the sword die by the sword.
I support Air Canada strike. Force them back to work? yeah… no.
PP should go down to the states. He'll fit right in.
F trump go union
May Love Peace Prevail In The World….
Strikes aren't meant to be comfortable direct your rage apropriatly you keyboard warriors
AC flight attendants are the worst in the world.Nasty as hell.
So proud of you!! "Make" them see your worth!! 👍😍💯
The tears of the old dad missing his son due to a speeding vice breaks my heart… I sincerely wish his old soul heals very soon!🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏🙏
I think it will be good for the Nova Scotia premiere to compensate the small businesses for a few months until the trails open once again. It is not a lot of money for the government but it would probably mean a lot to the small businesses.
I don't know why the fisherman's aren't making the most of it and catching all of the sockeye salmon? That is a lot of money to be made, salmon can be frozen.
I often see first class tickets available, will air Canada book their customers on other airlines of whichever classes are available or do they have to stay in the class booked with AC?
Cute how the union told them to vote for the liberals.😀
All these flight attendants must be fired!!!!
FINALY a news channel that is DOES NOT CENSOR PEOPLE !!!
So the LIBERALS are ordering people to get back to work without pay ??? Is Air Canada own by them ?
And HOW would you force them back to work ? With those UN TROOPS used to VIOLENTLY ATTACK Canadian FAMILIES during the MOST PEACEFUL protest EVER seen ?
How about ordering Air Canada to PAY FOR THEIR EMPLOYEES FOR THEIR WORK ?
Air Canada sucks anyway.
Let Air Transat do the job.
Good I fly AC every 3 weeks, the workers deserve fair pay withoput Government stepping to for their coporate buddies Keep going for what you deserve
It is a private co. the gouvernement has to stay out of it.
Canada have many Punjabi women and men to take over their job. Anyway in the future we will have Canairindia! 😂😂😂
Just pay your employees better ffs!
Pierre will BRING IT HOME tomorrow 🇨🇦
Flight attendants are at the front line fighting corporate abuse and government corruption. I stand with the flight attendants. Stay strong. 💪🏽
Just a sign of things to come.
They abandoned families and individuals at the other side of the world who are struggling to get back home. The government should step in and for the short term, get those abroad back home asap even paying for alternative airline. It is jeopardizing their finances, their jobs and even their safety. For 'all' those involved, it's all about them not the consequences on others who have nothing to do with it.
Do not back down. So many companies were ordered back to work over the past year and if we continue to back down, we will lose our rights as workers. Do not back down. You might have to take some arrows in the back, but if you back down now, they will win. Think of your kids when they get a job, do you want the companies to abuse them.
The flight attendant union just said no to an agreement where senior flight attendants would make nearly 90k to say “put your tray table up” over the next 4 years…. It’s unreasonable to expect senior wages when you’re new to any positon…. Yeah let’s fight union greed for once.