Large, commercial passenger flights will not be able to land at St. John’s International Airport this evening due to staffing levels of the airport’s firefighters.

The Airport Authority says as of 8 pm this evening, St. John’s International will not have adequate Fire Hall staffing levels to continue normal commercial operations.

Flight operations will be limited to cargo, medevac and aircraft with 19 seats or less until the staffing levels change.

The airport says it is working “around the clock” to resolve the issue with the union and Transport Canada.

Regional Vice President of the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, Chris Bussey, calls it “incomprehensible” that the situation has gotten to this point.

He says workers have gone to management with complaints about their safety, that they have been met with what he alleges has been a “barrage” of harassment, discrimination, and “reprehensible” behaviours.

Bussey calls it “mind-boggling” that the Airport Authority hasn’t removed the problem from the workplace.

Bussey says he’s very concerned for the workers. He says he doesn’t know if the Airport understands the severity of the situation, noting that in his conversations with the employer it’s clear to him that they don’t understand what a workplace should be in regard to bullying and harassment.

He says a mediator has been called in to assist the two parties to try to get a resolution.