Hours after Air Canada flight attendants went on strike and the airline indefinitely paused all flights, the Canadian government intervened Saturday and ordered operations to resume. Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu ordered the company's management and the union back to participate in binding arbitration to hash out their differences on wages and compensation.

In what is being called a “terrible precedent” by CUPE and a “blatant misuse” of the Labour Code by opposition MPs, federal Jobs minister Patty Hajdu has ordered Air Canada flight attendants back to work while the airline and union undergo binding arbitration.

The Canadian government has urged Air Canada and its flight attendants' union to restart contract negotiations, with a threatened work stoppage that could disrupt travel for tens of thousands just hours away unless there is a resolution to the dispute.