HAPPY VALLEY-GOOSE BAY, N.L. — Members of the Union of National Defence Employees are concerned about contract renewal for services at 5 Wing Goose Bay.
The group recently held a rally in Happy Valley-Goose Bay about the issue. The current contract with Serco, signed in the late 90s, has expired and the federal tender is currently open to bidders for a 10-year contract with the option to renew twice, up to 20 years total.
Shawn Coles, vice-president of the local, told SaltWire Network they’re concerned the new contractor may not maintain the current workforce and, if it does, seniority may be lost and there would be lower wages.
“With this new contract we don’t have any successor rights,” he said. “We could lose all of our sick leave, annual leave, it would be like starting over at the beginning again.”
Coles said that happened when Serco took over the contract and they want assurances it won’t happen again. That could lead to a strike, Coles said, which doesn’t help anyone.
They held the rally on the same day a number of the bidders were invited to tour the base, which Coles said was to show the companies they are strong, they aren’t going anywhere and want their collective agreement upheld by whoever wins the contract.
They’re also concerned whoever wins the contract might start using a fly-in-fly-out workforce.
“I’ve been working up there for 18 years and I do ok, but it took 18 years to get there,” he said. “If they do this fly-in-fly-out thing that money will be going to the communities those people live in, not staying here in Happy Valley-Goose Bay.”
Coles said they’ve spoken to Labrador MP Yvonne Jones, Lake Melville MHA Perry Trimper and Happy Valley-Goose Bay Mayor Wally Andersen about the issue and have been getting support.
Trimper said he has spoken to the union, some of the contractors, and the base about the contract renewal and he hopes it goes smoothly.
The last time the contract was renewed it caused chaos, he said and doesn’t want to see that again.
When asked about the concerns the local union have, Trimper said he can’t speak to what the bidders' plans are for the workforce but he hopes, whatever happens, doesn’t cause a disruption in the sustainability of the base.
“Serco’s intention, as far as I see, is to continue, with a model that involves a local workforce, with the same people,” he said. “I do not know what the intent is for other bidders.”
He said he also has a concern that the substantial contract up for grabs at 5 Wing could be used by national entities, such as the national union, for political leverage.
He mentioned all the work that has been done at 5 Wing during the last decade to diversify the activities at the base and said he hopes this doesn’t disrupt that.
“I don’t want to see this base, or the union here, used as a pawn on a national level. I’ve seen it happen twice in the last 20 years and it’s been to our detriment both times.”
