Air Canada flight attendants intend to stay on strike

Despite being ordered back to work by the federal government, Air Canada flight attendants intend to defy those orders and remain on strike.

A crowd roared as CUPE president Mark Hancock tore up a back-to-work order outside of Toronto Pearson Airport Sunday morning, signaling that the labour dispute between Air Canada and its flight attendants is far from settled.

The Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) were picketing outside of the international airport pledging that 10,000 flight attendants will not be returning to work and will challenge the order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board (CIRB).

The federal directive came after Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu intervened and asked the board to begin binding arbitration.

“There are a number of extremely difficult situations that increasingly – dire situations that Canadians are facing. We believe that the Industrial Relations Board will help these two parties conclude their negotiations on some key items,” said Hajdu.

The union is demanding that the cabin workers have wages relative to inflation and secure their desired compensation for work they do when the planes are not in the air.

Air Canada maintains that its offer will make the flight attendants the best compensated in the industry.

WATCH MORE: Why Air Canada flight attendants may strike and what it means for travellers

Meanwhile, Air Canada says the defied order from CUPE has prompted the airline to alter their operations.

The airline tells CHCH News, “Air Canada has suspended its plan to resume limited flying by Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge today after the Canadian Union of Public Employees illegally directed its flight attendant members to defy a direction from the Canadian Industrial Relations Board to return to work. The airline will resume flights as of tomorrow evening.”

They add that approximately 240 flights scheduled to operate beginning Sunday afternoon have now been cancelled, leaving passengers outside of Canada looking to other airlines to get home.

“We thought everything could have been resolved, nothing was resolved. So we had to pay out of our own pocket. We have two connecting flights, it was a last minute thing. There’s not too many options out there right now,” said Canadian man trying to get home Mike Masciale.

Air Canada had said it will offer people whose flights were cancelled options, including a full refund, travel credit or rebooking on other carriers.

WATCH MORE: Feds want Air Canada flight attendants back to work