Air Canada strike is over, union says

Union officials say a wildcat strike by Air Canada ground workers that started in Toronto and spread to other airports is over.

Union spokesman Bill Trbovich says three workers were suspended after Labour Minister Lisa Raitt was heckled while walking through the airport late Thursday.

Trbovich says when word of the suspensions spread their colleagues staged an illegal walkout, prompting the firing of 37 workers.

The union says the ground workers in Toronto, Montreal and Quebec started returned to their posts this morning after an arbitrator told them that everyone would be reinstated and there would be no punishment.

However a group of workers were still outside Terminal One at Toronto's Pearson airport chanting "shame on Lisa Raitt" as of 11 a.m.

Dozens of flights were cancelled or delayed as a result of the action, which Raitt called illegal as she warned that law enforcement had been notified.

They workers say they're angry that Raitt brought in back-to-work legislation and sent their contract dispute with the airline to arbitration.

The walkout left hundreds of passengers in limbo.

Many people had to leave flights already on the tarmac until management was able take over some baggage handling duties and allow the delayed flights to continue to their destination.