The Fort McMurray Airport Authority has issued layoff notices to 24 custodial workers and announced that custodial services will be taken over by a private contractor, Bill’s General Cleaning. The airport has also indicated that security staff will be next to go.
CUPE Alberta has a number of concerns about these actions:
1. The contractor offers employment at $14.50/hour. Because the Government of Alberta estimates the average cost of living in Fort McMurray to be $65,000 per year, the wages offered by the contractor are well under the poverty line.
2. Many of the workers currently employed in the airport’s custodial department are women with limited education and language skills. They have demonstrated their commitment to the airport as proved by their annual performance evaluations.
3. The airport has failed to show a cost savings in contracting out these services.
Clearly, this will have a negative impact on our community by creating more unemployment and lower-paid employment.
All workers deserve to earn a living wage with a secure job. Employers and governments should not use contracting out to distort the labour market, drive down wages and undermine unions.
We need your help stopping the airport from continuing this regressive action.
