Airports – Union of Canadian Transportation Employees

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 through in...

January 27, 2025

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

airports ARFF Campaigns Public safety UCTE campaigns

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 are...

January 22, 2025

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

airports Equity Harassment Health and safety Human rights private sector employers

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 department,”...

December 17, 2024

Gender in the Fire Hall, part 1: Pioneering Inclusion

Equity Health and safety Human rights Treasury Board

Gender in the Fire Hall, part 1: Pioneering Inclusion

UCTE represents airport firefighters at several Canadian airports. Union activism is a good vehicle for improving equity and inclusion in the workplace. This two-part series looks at the issues dealt with by two of our female firefighter members as they...

December 9, 2024

airports Bargaining Updates Collective Agreements Collective Bargaining Job Action Media releases and statements Ottawa International Airport Authority

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 to...

December 5, 2024

UCTE Wins Scheduling Case for Firefighter Members

Grievance and Arbitration

UCTE Wins Scheduling Case for Firefighter Members

An arbitration award restores our Local 60605 firefighter members at Moncton airport to their schedules.The grievance, filed in 2022, arose from the employer, Greater Moncton Airport Authority, changing firefighters’ schedules from 18-hour shifts to 12-hour shifts. UCTE and the employer...

November 7, 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 standardsfor release 10:45 a.m. November 5, 2024New research shows how Canada is not meeting its domestic or international requirements under the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO), says the Union of Canadian Transportation...

November 5, 2024

Feds are Following up on National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting

Health and safety

Feds are Following up on National Framework on Cancers Linked to Firefighting

Full funding was announced Monday“This is near and dear to my heart’” says YVR Firefighter Jeremy McNulty. “I lost my Lieutenant to cancer last year.” McNulty is devoted to UCTE’s campaign to improve prevention and treatment for our brothers and...

October 8, 2024

Firefighters at YWG Airport ratified a new collective agreement

Bargaining Updates

Firefighters at YWG Airport ratified a new collective agreement

Congratulations to our firefighters’ members at Winnipeg airport (YWG)! On September 29, 2022, they successfully ratified a new collective agreement. The new contract expires on December 21, 2024, and contains economic increase, domestic violence leaves changes, health spending account increase,...

October 4, 2022

All air travelers deserve safe landings – Safe Landings Canada

Campaigns PSAC

All air travelers deserve safe landings – Safe Landings Canada

If your plane were to crash, how many airport firefighters would be available to help? Canadian Airport Firefighters have witnessed a continuous erosion of the Civil Aviation Regulations (CARs) with regards to firefighting and rescue services. Over the years, Transport...

September 13, 2022