Air Canada flight attendants could face steep fines and the threat of imprisonment for defying a federal back-to-work order, but pressure is also building on Air Canada to reach a deal, labour experts say.

Canada’s national airline has suspended its plan to resume operations on Sunday night after the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced it would remain on strike and challenge an order from the Canada Industrial Relations Board requiring its members to return to work by 2 p.m.

The CIRB ordered the two parties into binding arbitration against the union’s will after Air Canada said it reached an impasse in negotiations following the expiration of its 10-year contract in March.

“This is a generational round of bargaining,” said Steven Tufts, an associate professor of labour at Yor

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