Strathmore Hospital laundry service goes private

By Sean Feagan, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter

Strathmore Hospital’s laundry service has gone private which Alberta Health Services said will save taxpayers money – but which also means layoffs for a couple of Strathmore Hospital workers.

The move to privatize started in October 2020 when AHS provided a request for proposal for third-party providers of laundry services across Alberta; the province selected K-Bro Linen Systems.

Overall, the transition will affect 428 full time, part time and casual employees across the province. This will include two positions in Strathmore and 11 in Drumheller, according to Alexander Delorme, communications officer for the Alberta Union of Provincial Employees (AUPE).

AUPE President Guy Smith said impacted workers are not guaranteed new jobs with K-Bro Linen Systems. 

“Only Premier Kenney would put health care heroes out of a job in the middle of a pandemic,” said Smith. “Privatizing services right when Albertans need them most is disgraceful.”

According to AUPE, K-Bro “consistently underpays” its employees compared to workers performing the same duties in the public sector and does not provide them benefits.

“It’s not as if these workers will simply carry on as normal with a new employer,” said Smith. “Kenney and K-Bro are ripping these family-supporting jobs away from rural Alberta only to offer scraps in return, and it’s the workers, their loved ones, and their communities who will suffer.”