CUPE, the union that represents Fort MacMurray International Airport workers, has made accusations that the airport administration is either recruiting temporary foreign workers or else they are underpaying migrant workers. The union organization has demanded to know exactly what the working conditions are for the workers who replaced the hired custodial staff. CUPE has said that airport staff have reported that many of the new workers who replaced the full time custodial staff are using foreign passports as identification, including Philippine passports. Airport staff have stated that some of these new workers are custodial workers. CUPE is concerned that the move from the previous custodial staff to outsourced workers has replaced Canadian citizens with foreign immigrant workers. CUPE’s Alberta Division secretary treasurer Glynnis Lieb said “I would be very surprised if that wasn’t the case. What the airport authority has said is they will save money by moving to these private companies for custodial and now security staff.”

Even if Fort MacMurray International Airport is using foreign immigrant workers this does not mean that any laws have been broken. When Bill’s Cleaning took over custodial duties at the facility CUPE protested, because the company has a history of using temporary foreign workers and paying very low wages. Lieb explained “Regardless of the nationality, are people being paid fairly? Are they getting the benefits they deserve to get in Canada? What is happening?. We want to protect our members and the thought of our members losing jobs because they cost too much is a concern to us, and we want to make sure no one is being exploited to save money.” Now that the security staff at the airport will also be outsourced this just heightens the concerns that workers and the union has.