(Photo: Brian Jean at the grand opening of his campaign office in Fort McMurray. April 9, 2015. Crystal Laderas/MORNING REPORTER).
CUPE Alberta is calling on Wildrose party leader Brian Jean to speak out against the Fort McMurray Airport Authorities (FMAA)plan to use Bill’s General Cleaning for custodial services.
The FMAA fired 26 custodial workers last week to cut expenses, and awarded the custodial contract to the local cleaning company, it has a sister business Bill’s recruiting which specializes in the recruitment and placement of Temporary Foreign Workers (TFW).
The union is concerned that the Canadian custodial staff fired last week will be replaced by TFW’s.
“When he was in the House of Commons, Mr.Jean made very clear statements about the TFW program and the need to employ Canadians first,” says CUPE Alberta President Marle Roberts. “It’s time he intervened in the Fort McMurray situation on behalf of the Canadian workers.”
As an MP for Fort McMurray Athabasca Jean said on May. 1, 2013, “I have heard from union and non-union members throughout my constituency that they clearly want some changes to the temporary foreign worker program. We are here for Canadians, and Canadians should have first crack at any job they want, no matter what part of the country they are from.”
According to CUPE the pay received by Bills General Cleaning workers is about half of what was paid to the 26 custodial staffers who were let go last week.
“It’s time our political leaders speak in favour of Canadian workers and tell the Fort McMurray Airport Authority: No contracting out!,” says Roberts.
