The Fort McMurray International Airport Authority has unexpectedly laid off seven workers, whose union said will affect travellers.
CUPE Local 1505 said in a press release that the cuts are exclusively to the maintenance team and travellers should expect a decline in service level.
“We met with the airport to discuss ideas about the way they could save money on Monday the 11th and there was no mention at that time they were going to do layoffs,” said Judy Collier, President of CUPE Local 1505. “There are less people flying in and out of Fort McMurray and that is what is causing the difficult times.”
According to Collier this latest round of layoffs eliminate more than half the workers who maintain the grounds and runways.
In 2015 the airport authority cut 50 custodian and security positions.
Collier added their Bargaining Unit has dwindled from 73 CUPE members to 12 in three years.
MyMcMurray reached out the airport authority but did not receive comment by time of publication.
Some management and administration positions were eliminated, but Collier feels additional reductions of the highly paid management positions would have been more beneficial and left service levels intact.
Affected employees will have the option of severance or recall, meaning they can be called to work another position at the airport within the next year.
