The union representing firefighters at St. John’s International is concerned with how staffing issues are impacting workers and passenger safety.
The Union of the Canadian Transportation Employees says the airport is dealing with a shortage of firefighters, causing many workers to punch 36 and 48 hour shifts in order to service the airport.
Chris Bussey
The union’s Regional Vice President Atlantic, Chris Bussey, says the burn-out felt by the responders is impacting their ability to react during an emergency situation.
He fears that not only compromises the safety of the workers, but also poses a risk to the thousands of travellers who commute through YYT.
The number of staff available to the airport’s fire department has been an issue in the past, but resources have become increasingly scarce to the point where Bussey fears it could impact the facility’s operational status.
The union is requesting an independent review be conducted on the current state of the fire department and emergency preparedness. They’re also calling on the St. John’s International Airport Authority to recruit additional firefighting staff immediately to meet labour and safety regulations.
