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Commercial operations to temporarily resume at St. John's airport amid labour dispute
CBC
St. John's International Airport resumed normal operations Wednesday morning after staffing issues at its fire hall prevented many passenger flights from landing or taking off.
But the solution is temporary.
In a statement to CBC News, the St. John's International Airport Authority said as of 8 a.m. Wednesday commercial operations have resumed, though the "solution is not permanent."
"We encourage passengers to confirm upcoming travel plans with their airline as we continue to work through this issue as a matter of priority," the statement reads.
Six of the nine firefighters employed at the airport have gone on leave due to concerns over what they call a toxic workplace. The union representing the firefighters blames airport management.
With staffing levels so low, most commercial passenger service at the airport was suspended Tuesday evening, leading to eight flight cancellations.
In a tweet early Wednesday morning, federal Labour Minister Seamus O'Regan said a mediator has been brought in to help resolve the dispute between the airport authority and the firefighters.
Chris Bussey, Atlantic vice-president for the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees, said Wednesday morning two of his union's firefighters will staff the fire hall for the next 24 hours while discussions between the union, the airport and the mediator continue through the day.
Bussey said neither firefighter is among the group who have taken leave.
"I'm not sure what that's going to bring today, but I'm hopeful that that office is able to help us resolve concerns that we haven't been able to resolve for a long time," Bussey told CBC Radio's St. John's Morning Show on Wednesday.
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