Key takeaway...
King said it's also possible that CUPE's refusal to comply could work in the union's favour.
He pointed to the example of Ontario Premier Doug Ford's government ordering CUPE's education workers back to work when they went on strike in 2022.
Ontario government repeals anti-strike law for CUPE education workers
"The entire labour movement in the province responded with the threat of a general strike. And the government was forced to back down and take their legislation away," King said.
"If something similar happens here, we could very well see no penalties. If labour mobilizes in support of the flight attendants, they could very well be victorious in this."
This is what supporting your fellow Canadians would be. So many news outlets and talking heads are focusing the conversation around the Canadians impacted by the flight cancellations and disruption. This is an attempt to sway the court of public opinion, and make it so people are pointing fingers at 'greedy' employees because they're inconveniencing the average traveller. Instead, people should be having conversations around how to support a subset of the population that is otherwise facing the same struggles as they are....putting food on the table, getting out of hand to mouth living, and being able to plan for a future which includes a semblance of financial security.
Elbows up, indeed.