A company that operates five long-term care homes for seniors in Edmonton is laying off nearly 160 support staff.
The Alberta Union of Provincial Employees says Shepherd's Care Foundation issued layoff notices Thursday to 157 staff and announced it will contract out the jobs.
The union says Shepherd's Care has refused to disclose the name of the contractor taking over the provision of services.
It also says laid-off workers are not being offered any opportunity to reapply for their jobs.
Union president Guy Smith says bargaining on a new contract for the workers was to start soon.
Smith says the layoffs start to take effect on Oct. 2.
"We will certainly fight this move through every possible channel," Smith said in a news release.
"These workers don't deserve this. Some have up to 30 years of service at Shepherd's Care providing the housekeeping, maintenance, and food services that are a vital part of quality care for seniors."
Alberta NDP leadership candidate David Eggens says the people who work caring for seniors deserve better. He says that there have been seven labour disputes with private care companies since 2008, when Alberta Health Services was formed, and he says that's a sign of a broken system.
This content appears as provided to The Globe by the originating wire service. It has not been edited by Globe staff.