Planned staff layoffs at Fort MacMurray International Airport has led to a warning from the Alberta Federation of Labour. Ever since the layoffs were announced by the facility many have been upset over the plan and have been very vocal about there dissatisfaction. In addition the company who has received the contract for the custodial services currently performed by the custodial staff at the airport has used foreign workers in the past. This has led some to claim that the contracted company plans to replace the staff being laid off with temporary foreign workers who will receive a lower wage. 23 full time employees and one part time staff member will be let go when Bill’s General Cleaning takes over custodial services at the airport according to the recent contract.

When discussing the staff layoffs at Fort MacMurray International Airport the Alberta Federation of Labor president Gil McGowan stated “Our message to the Fort McMurray Airport Authority is that if they proceed with this plan, there will be consequences. Our strategy will involve more than an information picket line outside of the airport.” CUPE Local 1505 president Les Collins said “The employer hasn’t proven otherwise, nor have they given the union any documentation in writing stating to that effect, that temporary foreign workers will not be used.” McGowan told the media “I can say that if the members of the airport authority make this decision, it is not an issue we will forget or something we will allow to blow over and fade away. Alberta’s unions will not stand for the plan the Fort McMurray airport’s CEO is trying to implement.”What is happening now in Fort McMurray and throughout Alberta is completely unacceptable. We will do what we can to stop this.”