Calgary workers rally at airport against plan to privatize major Canadian airports
Union leaders say private investors would seek returns that would be paid by fees, workers or the community.
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Union members and supporters rallied Monday on the departures level of Calgary International Airport against a possible federal plan to privatize four Tier 1 airports, Calgary, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver.
The rally was organized by the Public Service Alliance of Canada, Prairie Region, and the Union of Canadian Transportation Employees. Mark Grimson, UCTE vice-president, said airports are non-profit and reinvest all revenue in the airport, and that Calgary has the lowest passenger cost per person in the airport industry. He said privatized airport improvement fees would rise, and that unions have not been included in any talks so far. The union cited public safety concerns for travellers. Grimson said the model was previously tried in Australia and London Heathrow, and both failed.
Raj Uppal, president of CUPE Alberta, said: "It only profits and brings in... profits to just the stakeholders, but it leaves behind the community and the workers. I think Carney needs to scrap this idea." Barry Tchir, UCTE national president, said private investors would seek a 15 to 20 per cent return that would have to come from somewhere, and encouraged Canadians to contact their MPs.
The union said it learned in September of leaked discussions about opening Calgary and Vancouver airports to private investment. No federal government response to the union claims was reported, and no timeline for the proposal has been given.
