Saipem Canada knew for months it was getting booted off the Husky Sunrise site, according to one source. A former human resources representative at the site, who doesn’t want to be identified, said Husky Energy was trying to get the contractor to demobolize for at least three months.
“The night before, when everyone was getting notices, Husky had gone around and was locking offices and changing locks and sea cans and storage areas. Kind of cutting off access to the company. That kind of dramatic action isn’t normal,” he says.
Husky says that construction work at the Sunrise Energy Project is now largely complete, it announced yesterday that production as started.
“Husky and its contractors will continue to oversee and manage the remaining commissioning work. Saipem’s scope has been wrapped up,” said Mel Duvall, Husky Energy’s Media and Issues Manager in an email to MyMcMurray. “It would not be appropriate to comment on commercial matters and any questions regarding Saipem’s workers should be answered by Saipem.”
Workers woke up to a letter slipped under their door that said they needed their bags ready by 7 a.m.
“Husky has terminated its Sunrise EPC Contract with Saipem Canada effective immediately. As a result, you are required to demobilize off the Project Site this morning,” the March 11 notice says.
The source says Husky was waiting for Saipem to demobolize and nothing was being done. He says about 1,300 were laid off, and estimates about 700 are Saipem employees. Workers were given three options for flights, which landed in Calgary, Edmonton or Toronto.
“You make sure you manage all their personal belongings and send all that stuff home, so it’s going to be chaos. I don’t know what to do to have with 700 people still bring told about their personal things,” says the source.
– With files from Bradley Karp
