When the Fort MacMurray Airport Authority announced a plan to outsource the custodial staff earlier this year local residents were upset and labor groups were enraged. Now the agency has announced that the next step will be outsourcing the security staff later this year and many are upset by this decision. Airport security in the world today is critical, and some argue that the move to outsource those who provide security at the airport could put people and national security at risk. According to the Fort MacMurray Airport Authority 46 security workers will be let go after September 24, 2015, and this will be their last day on the job. The airport has chosen to contract security through Anzac based private company TAWS Security.

Scott Clements, the CEO for the Fort MacMurray Airport Authority, discussed the move towards outsourcing security staff. Clements said “We did this for the very same reason as we did with the custodial contract: to save money. It wasn’t a happy evening and not something I wanted to do, but I am not the only CEO that’s dealing with a downturn right now. It’s just custodial and security and that’s it. The rest of our union members and the rest of our trades we will keep internal,. Almost every airport in Canada contracts out janitorial and security duties.” This move is expected to save the airport around $3 million each year. Clements did confirm that the new security workers will have a lower pay and fewer benefits than the internal security staff did but the CEO refused to give specific numbers or further details. What do you think about this cost cutting move?