“Just Say No:” Airport Union Calls Further Privatization a Bad Idea

According to Unifor, which represents 16,000 workers in the aviation sector, the federal government’s March 7 statement encouraging additional privatization of Canada’s airports is a bad idea shown to siphon off profits, suppress wages, and increase costs for travellers.

“If your goal is to improve a public service, then pushing for privatization is the fastest way to fail,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “Privatization of Canada’s critical infrastructure, like our airports, can put profit over public safety, removes public accountability, and as many airport workers know, suppresses wages and working conditions for those affected.”

As Travel Market Report Canada noted yesterday, the government statement does not change the existing governance model or any laws, but it does outline ways that airports can partner with private entities such as pension funds to further privatize operations under existing legislation.

Unifor is urging airport authorities not to follow through with additional steps to privatize National Airport System (NAS) airports. NAS is made up of 26 airports, 22 of which are run by private, not-for-profit airport authorities.

“We’re in a national crisis, with Canada’s very sovereignty being threatened, and the direction from the top is to sell off more of our transportation infrastructure?” continued Payne. 

“Privatization is not free money, we always pay it back with interest, and often with regret. The most effective way to prevent privatization remorse in the future is to not sell off public infrastructure today. Just say no.”