The Public Service Alliance of Canada, Quebec Region (PSAC-Quebec) was disappointed to learn yesterday that the Carney government plans to privatize several Canadian airports, including Montréal-Trudeau in Dorval. This is a risky decision on several fronts.
Responding to the announcement, Sébastien Paquette, Executive Vice-President for PSAC-Quebec, said:
- History has shown that selling off public assets is never in the public interest. Taxpayers end up paying more, and workers lose out.
- We already know that private companies will be chasing profit. To maximize returns, they will have three options: charge travellers more, substantially erode working conditions, or scale back safety standards.
- Considering that ADM, the non-profit authority currently running Montréal-Trudeau, is already stretching airport safety thin, privatization could push it past the breaking point.
About PSAC-Quebec
PSAC-Quebec represents more than 200 members who work for ADM as administrative and professional staff, as well as firefighters.
Learn more about this announcement:
FTQ: Privatisation des aéroports du pays : réaction de la FTQ – Fédération des travailleurs et travailleuses du Québec (FTQ) [in French only]