June 12, 2024
SHARE
COMMONS
WORK #13 – Flying Under the Radar
Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.
Arshy Mann
Host & Producer
Jordan Cornish
Producer
Noor Azrieh
Producer
Karyn Pugliese
Editor-in-Chief

Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.

But it’s not just airlines. So many workers, especially in female-dominated professions like nursing, education or food service, have to endure similar demeaning and violent treatment.

And when they go to their employers, not only are they often ignored. They’re actively silenced.

 

Featured in this episode: Mandalena Lewis, Julie Macfarlane 

 

To learn more:

“Former WestJet flight attendant hails ‘history making’ decision to allow class action lawsuit” by Jenny Peng in The Toronto Star

“B.C. Court of Appeal certifies former flight attendant’s class-action lawsuit against WestJet” by Joel Ballard in CBC News

Notice of Civil Claim in Mandalena Lewis vs WestJet Airlines Ltd. (2016)

“How NDAs silence victims and let perpetrators off the hook” by Julie Macfarlane in Broadview

 

Credits: Arshy Mann (Host and Producer), Jordan Cornish (Producer), Noor Azrieh (Producer), Karyn Pugliese (Editor-in-Chief)

 

Additional music from Audio Network

 

Sponsors: Douglas, Article 

 

If you value this podcast, please support us. We rely on listeners like you paying for journalism. As a supporter, you’ll get premium access to all our shows ad free, including early releases and bonus content. You’ll also get our exclusive newsletter, discounts on Canadaland merch, invites and tickets to our live and virtual events, and more than anything, you’ll be a part of the solution to Canada’s journalism crisis and you’ll be keeping our work free and accessible to everybody. Come join us now, click the link in your show notes or go to canadaland.com/join

You can listen ad-free on Amazon Music—included with Prime

More from this series
November 28, 2024
This is the story of Canada’s first-ever video game union. And the lengths that the industry went to try to stop it in its tracks
July 3, 2024
The huge rise in international students in Canada — most of them from Punjab, India — has become one of the biggest stories in the country.
June 26, 2024
She expected to face opposition from tech companies and governments that are hostile to workers. But what she didn’t anticipate was that one of the biggest obstacles in her path would be a labour union. 
June 19, 2024
Mandalena Lewis is one of far too many flight attendants who have been harassed or assaulted on the job. And her story is just one example of a culture of sexism and abuse that she alleges pervades the airline industry.
June 12, 2024
In 2006, Zakaria Amara was arrested and imprisoned for planning what could have been one of the deadliest terror attacks in Canadian history. A ringleader of the so-called “Toronto 18,” he’s one of the most infamous Canadian convicts of the last few decades. 
June 5, 2024
♩♪ But Spotify, it’s nearly killed us Ticketmaster’s ground us to dust The companies got too large Now monopolies are in charge ♩♪
May 29, 2024
Not only do Canadian prisoners work for for-profit businesses, but they’re sometimes doing the most dangerous and nauseating work around
May 22, 2024
all podcasts arrow All Podcasts
COMMONS