Air Canada and the union representing 10,000 striking flight attendants were holding early discussions on Monday night, the union said in a statement, the first such talks in nearly a week.

Air Canada flight attendants remain on strike over wages and unpaid work before planes are in the air, despite the Canada Industrial Relations Board declaring the strike illegal and ordering a return to work.

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