Thousands of Canadian aviation professionals were put on leave without pay Monday for not complying with industry-wide forced COVID-19 vaccinations.
The group, Free to Fly, a hub for Canadian airline professionals and travellers against the COVID-19 mandates, was started in April by two Canadian airline professionals.
“Yesterday, thousands of pilots, flight attendants and other Free to Fly aviation professionals were forced into unemployment,” said the group in a statement released to the Western Standard.
“They have been deemed unwelcome by employers they served safely and faithfully for decades, after insisting on their right to informed consent and health freedom. These men and women are exchanging current comfort and security to bravely stand for the future freedom of this once great nation.”
Matt, one of the founders who has asked that we only use his first name, is a pilot for one of Canada’s major airlines. Matt and his wife, who is a flight attendant, were both put on leave without pay Monday
“Flying has been my dream since I was five years old,” said Matt in an interview.
“But I’m actually doing okay. I have the support of my family and the truth is, my wife and I have taken solace in banding together with like-minded people we’ve met through Free To Fly.”
Matt said membership for Free to Fly has been growing daily and sits just under 40,000.
“We are working to create a coordinated, coherent media message to up our presence. The goal is to recruit enough people that our force is felt economically,” said Matt.
Matt also said the group is working closely with lawyers who have a “proven track record for working on cases like this.”
“We plan to share stories from passengers and some of our airline professionals to show how people are suffering greatly with these new restrictions on travel,” said Matt.
Free to Fly has updated its website with a video that explains why tens of thousands of airline professionals would “give up lifestyle, financial security and, for some, a life-long dream career,” the statement reads.
“For things to go back to a free and fair society, we all have to give something up. But the longer we wait to stand up, the more we will all have to give up,” said Matt who encourages travellers and industry professionals to sign up on the Free to Fly website.
In the meantime, Matt said he and his wife plan to start a business together to support their family.
Monday, WestJet implemented the federal government’s mandatory vaccination policy for air travellers and put about 300 employees on leave without pay for not complying with the company’s vaccine mandate deadline.
“The implementation of these policies mark a major confidence milestone for our industry as Canadians can fly knowing that they are travelling within a fully-vaccinated ecosystem,” said Ed Sims, WestJet Group president and CEO in a statement.
“We are taking all necessary steps to ensure our guests are advised of the new requirements for travel prior to taking their next flight.”
According to the WestJet statement:
For Phase I, for travel between October 30 and November 29, 2021, in order to travel with The WestJet Group, guests must prepare to provide proof of vaccination or proof of a valid PCR test to demonstrate the requirements for travel.
For Phase II, for travel on or after Nov. 30, 2021, only proof of vaccination for guests 12 years or older, with narrow exceptions, will be acceptable for travel on the WestJet Group.
Roughly 96% of all WestJet staff are fully vaccinated.
The Western Standard reached out to Air Canada for a statement but did not hear back in time for publishing.
Melanie Risdon is a reporter with the Western Standard
mrisdon@westernstandardonline.com
Credit: Source link
