airports – Union of Canadian Transportation Employees

Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend

Sunday September 7 was the 2025 Fallen Firefighters Memorial Ceremony, part of the annual memorial weekend organized by the Canadian Fallen Firefighters Foundation (CFFF). Regina Local 40403 President Trevor Martel represented UCTE and paid our respects. It’s a powerful event....

September 11, 2025

Firefighters and Cancer – the story continues

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Firefighters and Cancer – the story continues

Cancer is still the leading cause of death for firefighters. Firefighters’ unions and some lawmakers have made progress in recent years, but there is much more that can be done to get better and more equitable access to prevention and...

August 26, 2025

Jennifer Jurca, Chief Steward and Airworthiness Inspector

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Jennifer Jurca, Chief Steward and Airworthiness Inspector

Jennifer Jurca is an airworthiness inspector at Transport Canada (TC has several groups of inspectors – marine, surface (which includes rail), civil aviation, and transportation of dangerous goods). With few exceptions, airworthiness inspectors are licensed Aircraft Maintenance Engineers (AME) like...

July 15, 2025

Injecting new Momentum into AARF Campaign

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Injecting new Momentum into AARF Campaign

On July 4, UCTE made contact with the members of the Standing Transport Committee on Transport, Infrastructure and Communities (TRAN), which has been reconstituted for the new session of parliament. The letter to the chair of the committee is posted...

July 8, 2025

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World Water Day and Public Services

UCTE members work on and with water from coast to coast to coast. In fact, a great many public-service workers – in UCTE and beyond – spend their days ensuring water cleanliness, stability, or otherwise dealing with water and its...

March 22, 2025

January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

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January is Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month

Our membership includes cancer survivors, and sadly our members have lost co-workers to cancer. We’re observing Firefighters’ Cancer Awareness Month in Canada for the second time. A national framework on cancers linked to firefighting was announced in October 2024, following...

January 27, 2025

How do we Regulate Civil Aviation in Canada and the World?

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How do we Regulate Civil Aviation in Canada and the World?

UCTE and ARFF (Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting) insiders talk about CARs and ICAO, and the important differences. But let’s cut through the jargon: this post explains what those are, and how and when they matter to the travelling public. These...

January 22, 2025

Gender in the Fire Hall part 2: Femininity, Masculinity, Solidarity

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Gender in the Fire Hall part 2: Femininity, Masculinity, Solidarity

UCTE represents airport firefighters at several Canadian airports. This two-part series looks at the issues dealt with by two of our female firefighter members as they challenge traditional barriers to women in firefighting services. “When I started with the volunteer...

December 17, 2024

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UPDATE: Tentative Agreement at YOW

UPDATE December 6: Tentative agreement reached: congratulations to the bargaining team! Workers at Ottawa International Airport, UCTE Local 70701, voted Wednesday strongly in favour of a strike mandate. This definitive show of support for their negotiating team is a response...

December 5, 2024

Shortfalls in Airport Firefighting Regulations can Increase Risk for Air Travelers

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Shortfalls in Airport Firefighting Regulations can Increase Risk for Air Travelers

UCTE: Aviation regulations should be raised to international standards for release 10:45 a.m. November 5, 2024 New research shows how Canada is not meeting its domestic or international requirements under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), says the Union of...

November 5, 2024