CUPE is saying that the Fort MacMurray Airport staff have low morale as a result of recent privatization of services that have resulted in staff layoffs and job losses. In recent months the custodial staff at the airport was laid off and replaced with outsourced workers from a private cleaning company. The wage paid to the company for the workers was less than what the hired staff was being paid, and many of the benefits previously provided were also cut when the positions were outsourced. Next the airport authority announced that the security staff would also be outsourced and this upset many people in the local community as well as the CUPE leaders. CUPE Local 1505 president Les Collins said “The morale of the employees is noticeably down. The employees are walking on eggshells. Losing a job right now could mean leaving your home and leaving town.”

CUPE is asking that the Fort MacMurray Airport stop looking at third party firms to outsource services as a way of cutting costs and saving money. There is also concern that the union has not yet seen the nw contract that was entered into with TAWS Security. Collins stated “Usually they’re quite cooperative about providing that. Anything that’s sensitive or confidential in documentation is blocked out, and we’re fine with that. To withhold all the information we’re requesting so we can do an apples-to-apples comparison, that is not cooperative.” CUPE Alberta Division president Marle Roberts explained “The Fort McMurray Airport is replacing skilled, experienced working people with people that it will economically exploit. Privatizing services always costs more in the end, as profit margins grow and working people and our communities are left with less.”