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Cara Smusiak (she/her)

@carasmusiak.bsky.social
616 followers 228 following 225 posts

Copywriter & strategist . Former magazine editor. Opinions are my own. Interests: Art, Covid/Long Covid, human rights, women's issues, BIPOC & 2SLGBTQIA+ support, ADHD, disability, climate change, GBV

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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 22/08/2026
If Vladdy isn’t going to attempt to run hard on ground balls, he should be benched. If nagging injuries prevent it, he belongs on the IL. This is just unacceptable. #bluejays
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Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Chantzy @chantzy.bsky.social · 18/05/2026
Learn from the locals who know the Andes Hantavirus best. In Chile, they serially test exposed contacts at 7, 14, 21 & 28 days. In her update for the WHO, Dr. Claudia Campillo from Chile's Ministry of Health, flagged a case became PCR+ while asymptomatic, then developed symptoms 4 days later
Timeline table of hantavirus clusters in Chile (2021–2025) showing delayed positive PCR tests & symptom onset among household contacts
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biometlab @biometlab.bsky.social · 17/03/2026
www.theguardian.com/environment/...
theguardian.com
Revealed: the world’s worst mega-leaks of methane driving global heating
Exclusive: Fixing a leak can be simple and equivalent to closing a coal power station, making lack of action maddening, say analysts
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 14/03/2026
Do you need help navigating a disability benefits application? We’re hosting a live webinar on Wednesday, March 18, to offer tips and advice for Long Covid patients and their caregivers. Dr. Ric Arseneau and Disability Alliance BC will share their expertise in applying for benefits. #LongCovid 1/3
Graphic featuring a man in an olive-green t-shirt, sitting at a counter with a laptop open in front of him. He is reading a piece of paper held in his right hand. His left hand is on his forehead and he appears stressed by what he is reading.

Text over on the graphic reads:
Live Webinar, March 18
Disability Benefits Application Advice
For Long Covid Patients & Caregivers

The background of the graphic is a navy and teal gradient.
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Reposted by Cara Smusiak (she/her)
Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 09/03/2026
Renowned researcher @zalaly.bsky.social joins B.C. family physician Dr. Susan Kuo for a conversation about Long Covid, covering what we know, research into mechanisms and treatments, and much more. Watch the full interview: covidsociety.ca/priorities/l... #LongCovid #ILCAD2026 #LongCovidAwareness
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The Local Magazine @thelocal.to · 07/03/2026
In case you missed it: “Even though the supervisors are tasked with restoring financial stability to their assigned boards, they’d be hard pressed to actually make any headway without a long-overdue overhaul of the province’s education funding formula.” thelocal.to/ontario-scho...
thelocal.to
The Province Took Over Ontario’s Biggest School Boards to Fix Their Finances. The Numbers Tell a Different Story | The Local
Analysis by The Local shows Ontario’s largest boards receive some of the lowest per-pupil funding in the province—raising questions about whether the real problem is mismanagement or the funding formu...
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 06/03/2026
There is strong research evidence that Covid-19 and Long Covid increase the risk of many cardiovascular conditions, including heart attacks, clotting events, POTS, vascular ageing and more. #LongCovidHeartbeats #LongCovid #ILCAD2026 #LongCovidAwareness #hearthealth 1/3
Graphic featuring a quote in the centre, which reads: 
“Covid-19 has a profound and lasting impact on cardiovascular health, with complications emerging during acute illness, recovery, and even after reinfections or vaccination.” 
Dr. Vassilios Vassiliou, lead author of “Cardiovascular disease prevention and management in Covid-19,” a clinical consensus statement

The text is placed on a background showing an ECG chart with a subtle navy and teal gradient overlay.
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Clare Blackwood @clareblackwood.bsky.social · 27/02/2026
In a world of US Men's Olympic hockey teams, be a Mariner's Josh Naylor talking about the first female umpire in the MLB.
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 19/02/2026
We’ve already received many stories highlighting how #LongCovid is heartbreaking. We’ll be sharing these experiences publicly at our Long Covid Awareness Day events on March 15. You can participate by submitting your experience here, by March 1: covidsociety.ca/priorities/l... 1/2
covidsociety.ca
Share Your Long Covid Experience - Canadian Covid Society
We Want People to See the Heartbreaking Impact of Long Covid Long Covid has changed so many people’s lives. Relationships have been affected. Many people have had to leave their careers, or had their…
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 13/02/2026
This year for Long Covid Awareness Month, we’re highlighting the impact of Covid on the heart and cardiac system. But we know #LongCovid impacts people in so many different ways, so we want to highlight all sorts of patient experiences with an instantly recognizable graphic: a broken heart.
Red broken heart graphic on a navy blue background. The text overlay on the heart reads: "Having Long Covid is heartbreaking because...an hour-long bike ride wrecks me for days." Above the heart, highlighted text reads: "Tell us what it's like to live with Long Covid." In the bottom right of the graphic is a teal bubble; inside, the text reads "your experience here" with an arrow pointing to the heart.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 07/02/2026
CBC running commercials beside the Olympics opening ceremonies — cutting the audio feed as they do so — is really disrespectful to the performers and athletes. It’s a replay. Just put in commercial breaks and run it longer.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 06/02/2026
Watching team figure skating on CBC Gem, and the sound from the arena is practically inaudible. You can barely hear the music. Turning up the volume means the commentators are extremely loud (awful and bordering on harmful to hearing). It's unwatchable.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 30/01/2026
In a rather odd twist of fate, I heard of Catherine O'Hara's passing while watching the "RIP Moira Rose" episode of Schitt's Creek. RIP to one of the great legends of comedy. www.cbc.ca/news/enterta...
cbc.ca
Legendary Canadian actress Catherine O'Hara dead at 71 | CBC
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 24/01/2026
IDK who at CBC thought this was a schedule — but it's not it. Viewers should be able to find and watch specific events. We should be able to stream events on demand in full. What are viewers supposed to do with "Olympic Daytime: Milano Cortina 2026 - DAY 1"?
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 02/01/2026
It should be bigger news that the world’s first soon to be trillionaire has created a chatbot that is undressing women without consent. Grok is even undressing children. Musk created it. He’s aware it’s happening and he’s doing nothing to stop it. Every media outlet needs to scream about this.
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Raywat Deonandan 🍁🇨🇦 @deonandan.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
The flu continues to wreak havoc across the northern hemisphere. In Canada, we've had at least two dozen deaths so far, including among small children, over a handful of days. Here are some things you need to know: Thread [1/12]
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Ray Pride @raypride.bsky.social · 15/12/2025
Rob Reiner: “Silence in the face of authoritarianism is complicity. Speaking out is a patriotic act. Democracy doesn’t defend itself. It requires participation, vigilance, and courage from ordinary people."
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André Picard @picardonhealth @picardonhealth.bsky.social · 16/12/2025
Three children dead in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario region after flu-related complications. Medical officers of health warn of rapid rise in influenza-A, urge vaccination ahead of holidays, by @kkirkup.bsky.social www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/artic... via @theglobeandmail.com
theglobeandmail.com
Three children dead in Ottawa, Eastern Ontario region after flu-related complications
Medical officers of health warn of rapid rise in influenza-A, urge vaccination ahead of holidays
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 10/12/2025
The iOS 26 update should come with a TW for anyone with vestibular dysfunction (motion sickness). The new animations instantly made me dizzy and nauseated. To turn them off: Settings >> Accessibility >> Motion >> toggle on Reduce Motion
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 07/12/2025
I was just looking up an Ikea item on the U.S. site (checking for Prop 65 warning) and couldn't believe the impact of tariffs. In Canada, the item is CAD$14.99; in the U.S., it's US$19.99. With the exchange, Americans are paying nearly 2x what we are in Canada. I cannot overstate how wild this is.
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Matthew Hodson @matthewhodson.bsky.social · 01/12/2025
I was diagnosed with #HIV in 1998, when I was 30. Many of my friends had died of AIDS. I did not expect to live to 50. I’m 58 now. HIV treatment works. Treatment also makes it impossible for me to pass HIV on during sex. Ensure HIV treatment for all. End HIV stigma. #WorldAIDSDay
Me on a candlelit vigil for AIDS in 1987. Me last week. Looking pretty healthy for 58 (28 years living with HIV).
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 25/11/2025
Normand Meunier is a Canadian man with quadriplegia who accessed MAiD (Medical Assistance in Dying) after being left for 96 hours on a stretcher in the ER. His requests for a specialized mattress were denied. He wasn't turned regularly. He developed bed sores so bad, he opted to end his life.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 15/11/2025
The @heartandstroke.bsky.social commercial where a researcher is surprised by a coffee shop full of people whose lives were saved by her work makes me cry every time. It’s so powerful.
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Cheryl in Nova Scotia 🇨🇦🍁🍁 @minibubbly.bsky.social · 12/11/2025
WTF NB Power - why are you allowing a US company to do this? 🤬 A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of #SaintJohnNB would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar area. www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
cbc.ca
Proposed data centre would need almost half of Tantramar gas plant’s power | CBC News
A proposed data centre in the Lorneville area of Saint John would gobble up the equivalent of almost half the electricity N.B. Power will get from a controversial natural gas plant in the Tantramar ar...
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 11/11/2025
It's the time of year when the berries on the tree out front ferment, and the birds get drunk, lose their shit, and inevitably bang into our front windows. They're usually moving a bit slow and don't end up unaliving themselves, thankfully. But the sound is more than a little unnerving.
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Marta O'Brien @archhistory.bsky.social · 09/11/2025
From article: - prov provided 78% of operating revenues for Ont universities in 1987-88 - by 2001 was 36%; in 2022 <25% - result: lowest per-student funding of any prov in Canada
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Chantzy @chantzy.bsky.social · 10/11/2025
Canada loses Measles elimination status, as does the entire Americas region. Clinics here have signs warning about Measles but no masks in healthcare www.statnews.com/2025/11/10/m...
statnews.com
Canada loses measles elimination status — as does the entire Americas region
Canada has formally lost its measles elimination status, the country’s public health agency announced, triggering the loss of that status throughout all of the Americas.
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Ariel Troster @arieltroster.bsky.social · 04/11/2025
I was a coms staffer at PSAC when the Harper government slashed the public service — a miserable time for everyone. All it led to was layoffs, followed by the fed govt hiring more temps and expensive consultants. And then eventually hiring back even more people. It takes humans to run a country 🤷‍♀️
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
This is a huge shame. @teenvogue.com has been doing excellent work — raising the bar for the legacy media outlets that should be (but sadly aren’t) doing this critical work. Those involved in this decision deserve deep scorn.
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 03/11/2025
The USDA is the fail safe for SNAP. They have a contingency fund to ensure it’s covered in the event of a shutdown. They’re refusing. Grocery stores stepped up to try and help by offering discounts to any SNAP recipients and the USDA told them they had to stop. Starvation as a policy choice.
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SARS‑CoV‑2 (COVID-19) @covid19disease.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet. www.nature.com/articles/d41...
nature.com
This ‘minor’ bird flu strain has potential to spark human pandemic
Experiments suggests H9N2 has adapted to human cells but cases of person-to-person transmission haven’t been reported yet.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
On the plus side, a lot of the Blue Jays’ best players will be better rested than the Dodgers’ best for tomorrow’s game.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 28/10/2025
Something that probably needs to be talked about tomorrow (er, today? but after we’ve all had some damn sleep), is the inconsistency in calls from the home plate umpire. There have been quite a few balls that are called strikes and strikes that are called balls. #worldseries
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Unofficial TorontoStar (All News) @torontostar-rss.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs
thestar.com
Toronto food banks saw more than 4 million visits in the last year, including from those working multiple jobs
Residents working multiple jobs and even those with post-secondary degrees are struggling to make ends meet, according to report by the Daily Bread Food Bank and North York Harvest Food Bank.
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Kelly @broadwaybabyto.bsky.social · 27/10/2025
The Walton family (who own Walmart) are worth over $400 billion, yet many of their employees are on SNAP. Bezos is worth over $400 billion, many Amazon employees require SNAP. The people who need help are not the problem. It’s corporate greed. It’s an unwillingness to pay a living wage.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
And I want to recognize the @mariners.com. They came to compete every game and played with such sportsmanship. And they deserve the utmost respect for a great season.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 21/10/2025
As an ’80s baby, I’m THRILLED to see the @bluejays.com going back to the World Series!! 💙 Let’s GOOOOOO!!!
media.tenor.com
a blue jays player stands on the field during a game
ALT: a blue jays player stands on the field during a game
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David Keegan @drdavidkeegan.bsky.social · 18/10/2025
🚨 This is inexplicable news to share. If in Alberta and you want flu and covid shots for NEXT year (2026-2027), you have only until December 15 of THIS year to order them. This is not incompetence. It’s a deliberate choice to prevent as many people .. bookvaccine.alberta.ca/vaccine/s/pr... 1/2
bookvaccine.alberta.ca
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The Breakdown AB @thebreakdownab.bsky.social · 17/10/2025
Rakhi Pancholi came out swinging on the Wyant Report and highlighted all of its flaws and shortcomings… It’s worth remembering she’s a lawyer as she takes Danielle Smith’s spin apart. #abpoli #ableg #cdnpoli
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Jack Hauen @jackhauen.bsky.social · 08/10/2025
NEW: David Piccini, the minister whose office picks Skills Development Fund recipients, was in Paris this weekend at the wedding of a lobbyist whose clients received millions from that fund. From me and @charliepinkerton.bsky.social. www.thetrillium.ca/news/politic...
thetrillium.ca
Ontario labour minister attended lobbyist’s wedding after granting his clients millions in training funds
Two clients of lobbyist Michael Rudderham have received more than $8.5 million in Skills Development Fund grants, records show
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Jenn Allen @jenn-allen.bsky.social · 02/10/2025
Woman with Long Covid who works for the province suing over denial of long-term disability. One of the *many* ways that there is absolutely no help available for the millions of people disabled by Covid. cbc.ca/1.7648843
cbc.ca
Manitoba government employee sues province, Canada Life over denial of long-term disability | CBC News
A Manitoba government employee who was diagnosed with long COVID and another ailment is suing the province and Canada Life after her request for long-term disability payments was denied by the insuran...
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DoNoHarm BC @donoharmbc.bsky.social · 15/09/2025
ADVOCACY OPPORTUNITY: WorkSafeBC is revising some regulations, including its standard on respirators! However, it plans to use an outdated edition on N95s. Background and how you can help 🧵:
An illustration of three masked workers. Text reads, "Tell WorkSafeBC to use the newest standard for N95s and other respirators. Give written feedback by September 26, 2025. Register for the virtual public hearings on Sept. 24." More info and talking points: DoNoHarmBC.ca
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Julie S. Lalonde @julieslalonde.bsky.social · 09/09/2025
In Kingston, there's a trial happening that's getting barely any attention. Even I just heard of it! 40yr old tech entrepreneur Michael Haaima is facing *98* charges for sexual assault and related offences committed against *28 women and girls* between '07 and '22. MAJOR content warning.
kingstonist.com
'It's like Bernardo,' officer says as Haaima trial resumes – Kingston News
(Kingston, Ontario) The "mega trial" of Michael Mark Haaima resumed Tuesday, Sep. 2, 2025, after a two-week summer hiatus, with testimony from the boyfriend of one of Haaima's alleged victims.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 23/08/2025
This is great news!! 🎉 But the work doesn’t stop here. Next task: Advocating for Novavax access across Canada. Many immunocompromised people and those who’ve reacted to Pfizer/Moderna need the protein-based vax.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 22/08/2025
Reminder: The complaint was filed in 2007 & the CHRT issued its decision in 2016. It found the Canadian government discriminated against 165,000 First Nations kids by providing less funding for child welfare services on reserves than off, and by incentivizing removal of children.
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 21/08/2025
CCS members Rebecca Lewkowicz and Dr. Susan Kuo are featured in this article about long Covid in children. Rebecca shares her son's extreme pain & nausea from long Covid, and Dr. Kuo discusses the lack of awareness of children's long Covid among doctors. Gift article: www.thestar.com/news/canada/...
thestar.com
Long COVID left her son with debilitating stomach pain. Why it’s an ‘uphill battle’ for so many kids to get treated
Children living with long COVID face an uphill battle to access care or even have their symptoms believed, parents and doctors say. Here’s why.
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Canadian Covid Society @covidsociety.ca · 16/08/2025
Even a quick comment of support matters. But if you want to go deeper, our friends at DoNoHarm BC have created an excellent guide to commenting: donoharmbc.ca/national-sta... Take action now —> Submit your comments on Z94.4 here: publicreview.csa.ca
Graphic with image and text. A woman wearing an N95 mask is on the left of the graphic. To her right, text reads: You can help influence health care safety policy today.Text-based graphic with a navy blue background, a scattering of slightly lighter blue dots, and the Canadian Covid Society logo centred at the bottom. The text on the image reads: The CSA standard for the use of respirators is being updated, and the new edition would require respirators be worn by health care workers (with a few exceptions).Text-based graphic with a navy blue background, a scattering of slightly lighter blue dots, and the Canadian Covid Society logo centred at the bottom. The text on the image reads: CSA Standards often inform policy development, so this is a huge step forward in making health care safer for staff — and, by extension, patients.Text-based graphic with a navy blue background, a scattering of slightly lighter blue dots, and the Canadian Covid Society logo centred at the bottom. The text on the image reads: Tell the CSA you support the draft standard by August 19th!
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 16/08/2025
“The Liberals are violating our Charter rights to take job action and give Air Canada exactly what they want—hours and hours of unpaid labour from underpaid flight attendants, while the company pulls in sky-high profits and extraordinary executive compensation.” www.ctvnews.ca/business/art...
ctvnews.ca
BREAKING: Jobs minister orders Air Canada flight attendants back to work
Air Canada flight attendants have officially begun their strike after failing to reach a deal with the airline, the Canadian Union of Public Employees announced Saturday morning.
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Cara Smusiak (she/her) @carasmusiak.bsky.social · 15/08/2025
In 2024, @aircanada.bsky.social had record revenues and a $1.3-billion free cash flow; its CEO earned $12.3 million in salary, stocks & bonuses. AC absolutely can afford to pay flight attendants for the time they're working, at market value and with increases that at least match inflation.
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