TORONTO — Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 flight attendants resumed negotiations late Monday, marking the first discussions since the strike began over the weekend. The strike has disrupted travel for approximately 130,000 passengers daily during the peak summer travel season.

The meeting took place with the assistance of a mediator in Toronto, following the union's announcement that flight attendants would not return to work despite the strike being declared illegal. Earlier, Air Canada announced that flight cancellations would continue into Tuesday afternoon after the union defied a second return-to-work order.

Air Canada had initially stated that operations would resume Monday evening, but union president Mark Hancock declared, "We will not be returning to the skies." The Canada Industrial Relations Board had ordered the flight attendants back to work, but the union chose to ignore this directive.

Union leaders also disregarded a weekend order to enter binding arbitration and end the strike by Sunday afternoon. The board, which interprets and applies Canada’s labor laws, required the union to notify its members by noon Monday to resume their duties. Hancock stated, "If it means folks like me going to jail, then so be it. If it means our union being fined, then so be it. We’re looking for a solution here. Our members want a solution here, but solution has to be found at the bargaining table."

The situation remains tense, as it is unclear what actions the board or the government can take if the union continues to resist. Labor leaders have criticized the Canadian government for frequently invoking laws that limit workers' rights to strike and compel them into arbitration, a practice seen in recent years with various labor groups.

Prime Minister Mark Carney commented on the disruption caused by the strike, stating, "We are in a situation where literally hundreds of thousands of Canadians and visitors to our country are being disrupted by this action. I urge both parties to resolve this as quickly as possible." He emphasized the importance of fair compensation for flight attendants.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu announced that the federal government is investigating the union's claims that flight attendants are not compensated for work performed while planes are on the ground. The government is also considering legislation to address this issue.

Air Canada operates around 700 flights daily and estimates that 500,000 customers will be affected by the ongoing cancellations. According to aviation analytics firm Cirium, as of Monday afternoon, Air Canada had canceled at least 1,219 domestic flights and 1,339 international flights since last Thursday, when the airline began suspending operations in anticipation of the strike.

Air Canada CEO Michael Rousseau expressed hope for a swift resolution, stating, "We’re obviously hoping we can go tomorrow, but we’ll make that decision later today."

Passengers like Montreal resident Robert Brzymowski have been significantly impacted. He and his family have been stranded in Prague since Saturday after Air Canada canceled their flight home from a two-week vacation. Brzymowski, who was set to start a new job Monday, lost the contract due to the delay.

Frustrated by the airline's lack of communication, he managed to secure a new flight for August 25, more than a week after their original departure. He noted that his children would miss the first day of school and that his wife would not be paid for the week since she used her remaining paid time off for the trip. "I, for one, will never fly Air Canada again," Brzymowski said. "I’ll take a boat if I have to."

The strike began after flight attendants rejected Air Canada's request to enter government-directed arbitration, which would involve a third-party mediator determining the terms of a new contract. The airline and the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) have been in negotiations for about eight months but remain far apart on issues related to pay and unpaid work performed by flight attendants when planes are not in the air.

Air Canada's latest proposal included a 38% increase in total compensation, including benefits and pensions, over four years, which the airline claimed would make its flight attendants the best compensated in Canada. However, the union argued that the proposed 8% raise in the first year was insufficient given current inflation rates.

Passengers affected by the cancellations can request full refunds through Air Canada’s website or mobile app.