Travellers pass Air Canada flight attendants on strike at Pearson International Airport in Toronto on Aug. 18, 2025. The Canadian Press/Sammy Kogan
What happens in Canada when organized labour refuses to comply with a back-to-work order? In the 1970s, refusal to obey back-to-work orders led to jail time for several union leaders. But there have also been other cases with less severe outcomes or no consequences at all, especially in recent times.
The question of what the outcome could become for defiant unions is once again on the country’s mind, with the showdown between Air Canada and unionized flight attendants reaching an impasse.
The Current Situation
About 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants who belong to the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) went on strike on Saturday, Aug. 16, over unmet salary and work condition demands.
