Talks restart as Air Canada strike goes on

Talks between Air Canada and the union representing its 10,000 striking flight attendants resumed Monday, hours after a labour relations board declared the walkout illegal and ordered the union to bring them back to work by midday.

- IAN AUSTEN

The Canadian Union of Public Employees defied the board's order, saying the strike, which has caused extensive disruption to air travel in Canada, would continue.

"We don't want Canadians caught in this, but we will not be returning to the skies," Mark Hancock, the union's national president, said at a news conference. "We're going to make sure that those women and men get the pay that they deserve."

Hugh Pouliot, a spokesperson for the union, said later that negotiations with Air Canada had resumed Monday evening. Addressing union members in a social media post, the union's bargaining committee said the talks were being aided by a mediator.

The Canadian government decided Saturday to try to end the strike by forcing the labour dispute into binding arbitration. The union contends that the government's move was itself illegal and violated its members' constitutional right to strike and to achieve a negotiated settlement.

The union filed an application asking the Federal Court of Canada to overturn the order. It also asked for an injunction to suspend the return to work and arbitration orders until the court reviews its application.

If the renewed talks fail and the strike continues, the union and its members could face large daily fines and even the prospect of jail for the union's leadership.