After months of stalled negotiations, 10,000 Air Canada flight attendants walked off the job early Saturday morning. The federal government stepped in hours later to order binding arbitration, forcing an end to the strike — or so they thought.

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.

We are now officially on strike! Picket lines will be active at all bases, Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) declared, forcing the suspension of all Air Canada and Air Canada Rouge flights

The union representing Air Canada AC-T +0.31% flight attendants has rejected the airline’s proposal for binding arbitration, leaving bargaining suspended as time winds down toward an impending strike deadline early Saturday.

Air Canada abruptly ended its press conference after a lineup of protestors entered the room and held signs reading “unpaid work won’t fly” and “UnfAir Canada,” among other statements.