The union representing thousands of striking Air Canada flight attendants says it will risk jail time and fines but will not order its members back to work, despite the federal labour relations board calling the strike illegal.

Air Canada's flight attendants strike has entered its third day, defying a back-to-work order and causing mass flight cancellations across Canada.

Canadian regulators order union leaders to end Air Canada's work stoppage on Monday, while employees remain defiant.

Mark Carney has been accused of a “blatant betrayal” of women’s rights after the Canadian prime minister intervened to try and block a strike by 10,000 flight attendants.

Jobs Minister Patty Hajdu issued an order calling on the industrial relations board to end the strike and impose binding arbitration.

Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 flight attendants resumed talks late Monday for the first time since the flight attendants' strike began over the weekend.