The Canadian Union of Public Employees' (CUPE) refusal to follow a federal labor board order for the flight attendants to return to work has created a three-way standoff between the company, workers, and the government. It has also raised the stakes in a dispute that is now closely watched by other labor groups.

The union representing Air Canada flight attendants vowed to fight a federal order to end their strike, calling it "blatantly unconstitutional" and accusing the government of siding with the airline.