Former Vancouver airport screener says she quit over poor working conditions, low pay

A former security screening employee who worked at Vancouver International Airport says she quit her job of four years over poor working conditions and low pay.

A former security screening employee who worked at Vancouver International Airport says she quit her job of four years over poor working conditions and low pay.

Shuchi Shah was employed by Allied Universal Security, an American company contracted by the Canadian Air Transport Security Authority (CATSA) to handle security screening at airports in British Columbia and Yukon.

She says many of her former co-workers also recently quit, or simply didn’t return to the company after being recalled from COVID-19 layoffs.

“Think about it. We are so exhausted. We are working so hard. We do not get enough support from our management,” said Shah. “We do not get enough pay. Every screening officer is just tired.”

She quit her job in April despite not having another one lined up.

CATSA said it is aware that AUS has been having trouble recruiting and retaining employees, leading to a staffing shortage that has caused long lines for security at YVR – prompting the airport and airlines to encourage travellers to arrive as early as possible to avoid the possibility of missing flights.

In recent days, at various times the lines leading to security checkpoints have wound their way through the airport’s terminals with some travellers reporting waits of up to three hours.