UCTE represents Inspectors at Transport Canada in many locations around the country. Karen Houlahan is a Civil Aviation Inspector and President of Local 00018.
There is a lot more to our members’ work than you might have heard. Even other UCTE members and other workers in transport could benefit from knowing more about the work that keeps us all safe when we travel.
Most of us occasionally see air and other accidents in the news and have a vague sense that it is someone’s job to prevent these things, and to learn lessons anytime something went wrong. Karen Houlahan is part of that effort. She has no problem working behind the scenes, but as a union activist she also wants the public to know how the value of her work comes into play whenever you step onto an airplane – or even whenever one flies over your home.
Just who are these inspectors?
Transport Canada (TC) has inspectors for the four transport modes – air, marine, rail, road, plus TDG (transportation of dangerous goods) – who work on ongoing compliance. Transportation Safety Board (TSB) has investigators who are called in when there has been an incident or accident. UCTE represents some of each, and all of them are working to prevent issues and incidents.
Houlahan is passionate, serious, and focused on the outcomes of the work – meaning improved safety for the travelling public. She has background in helicopter maintenance and applies that expertise as an airworthiness inspector.
We asked Houlahan about notable accomplishments at work. Enforcement work is critical, but not easy to illustrate with examples. As she says, after all, “Success is when nothing happens.” Many workers will recognize this: when you do the job well, nobody notices. But she knows her work is having a positive impact.
Safety has cost implications for operators. Therefore, safety compliance is always contested. We need dedicated and conscientious inspectors like Karen on our side. The travelling public and crew should be glad that our members are in place to stand up for the laws and regulations that our safety depends on.
A Woman in Transport
She says she has been fighting for respect and pushing back her whole career. Unsurprisingly, she has seen sexism, misogyny, and abuse. Some clients sometimes even leveraged her gender to cast doubt on her findings.
Over the years, Houlahan has seen some culture change, but more than this she has earned respect through her work, while individuals who carry sexist and regressive views come and go.
Houlahan became an activist over an internal pay equity discrepancy that she wanted to work on. She was encouraged to take on her first union role by Christine Collins, then National President. Houlahan, in her turn, actively supports union women who are developing their leadership capacities.
Where union and activism and passion for safety come together, you’ll find Karen Houlahan and many other UCTE members.
