The St. John’s International Airport Authority has confirmed it is limiting its operations due to a staffing issue at its fire station, preventing most passenger flights from landing.
In a press release on Tuesday, the St. John’s International Airport Authority said flights will be limited to cargo flights, medical evacuations and aircraft with fewer than 20 seats, beginning at 8 p.m. Tuesday. , until the numbers change.
In a statement from PAL Airlines, officials say they are monitoring the situation and are ready to work with travelers to make alternate arrangements. CBC News has also asked Air Canada and WestJet for comment.
Some flights at the airport were canceled on Monday after six of the nine employed firefighters went on leave due to concerns about what they call a toxic workplace, and the airport’s fire station is staffed insufficient to authorize all flights, an authority spokesman said.
Chris Bussey, regional vice-president of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, said CBC News workers shared concerns about bullying, harassment and health and safety issues at the airport.
“It’s very unfortunate to come to this,” Bussey said after the announcement. “I think it’s unfortunate that the health and safety of our members has been ignored and their concerns have been pushed to the point that it has affected their psychological health.”
Bussey said he spoke to airport authority management on Tuesday and requested that a federal mediator be involved in the negotiations. He said it is a difficult situation for firefighters, but the safety and well-being of workers is their top priority.
“I’m not sure the airport authority understands the extent and severity of this on our members,” he said. “I hope this will be the start to solve the problems, but I am not very optimistic.”
Lisa Bragg, the airport authority’s director of business development and marketing, told CBC News on Monday that flights were being affected, but did not respond to union claims. The airport authority declined to do an interview with CBC News.
The statement said the airport authority is working with Transport Canada to resolve the issue.
St. John’s South-Mount Pearl MP Seamus O’Regan said his office was also involved in the matter, tweeting that the immediate aim was to “minimize disruption and return the airport to full and safe full operational safety”.
The current situation at St John’s airport is unsustainable.
Senior officials from my department are now involved.
Immediate objective: to minimize disruption and make the airport fully and safely operational.
Long-term objective: resolution of this dispute. https://t.co/gQf24csyqt
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