From Toronto Sun – link to story
Bryan Passifiume | Oct 26, 2020
Calling on federal support of airlines and the expansion of the government’s airport rapid testing program, airline pilots will rally at Pearson International Airport on Friday.
Organized by Unifor, Local 7378 — which represents Sunwing pilots — Friday’s rally is one of three calls for action planned across Canada.
Last week, a rapid testing project was launched at Calgary International Airport, allowing international passengers arriving in Alberta to take a COVID-19 test — followed by a second seven days later — to forego the mandatory 14-day quarantine.
Spearheading the push towards a Canada-wide airport rapid testing program, Local 7378 wants Premier Doug Ford to put pressure on the federal government to expand the program across Canada.
“The aviation industry needs support,” said Barret Armann, Local 7378 president.
“Both the federal and provincial governments have done little to ensure this industry and its taxpaying workers and families survive the pandemic.”
Armann said after the government decreased the Canada Emergency Wage Subsidy (CEWS) for furloughed airline employees, the aviation sector is now both the worst-hit and least-supposed industry during the pandemic.
With some exceptions, only Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal are permitted to accept international flights since COVID-19 directives were enacted in March.
Further marches are planned in Vancouver and Montreal on the following two Fridays.