Open letter to Premier Houston regarding NSCC food service contract

Dear Premier Houston,

We are writing to express our grave concern about Nova Scotia Community College’s (NSCC) decision to hand over its food service contract to Aramark, an American corporation. This move has cost 27 Nova Scotians their union jobs, which provided stability, decent wages, benefits, and pensions. These were jobs people counted on to support their families and build a life here at home. Even more troubling is that the contract was awarded without a competitive tender process. There was no open call. There is no opportunity for local companies to compete. No transparency. Decisions like this put Nova Scotia workers at a disadvantage and shift public money into private, foreign hands. 

Yes, the new jobs might still be offered to Nova Scotians, but let’s be clear: these are not the same jobs. They’re often low-wage, contract positions with fewer benefits and no pensions. That means less money staying in our communities and more profit leaving the province. Aramark isn’t here to build communities. It’s here to make money, and it achieves that by cutting wages and benefits and doing more with less. That’s not the future we want for our public institutions. Union jobs are different. They create stability. They keep families here. They grow our local economy. Union wages get spent in local businesses, supporting the shops and services that make up our communities. These jobs build a stronger Nova Scotia. They are part of what makes our public services work. Premier, you promised to end these kinds of deals and put Nova Scotians first. However, we are currently witnessing public sector work being handed over to a US corporation behind closed doors. That is not leadership. That is a broken promise.

We are calling on you to act:

• Cancel the Aramark contract
• Rehire the 27 workers under their union agreement with fair wages and pensions
• Stop sending public jobs and public money to for-profit, foreign companies

This is not just about cafeteria jobs. It is about what kind of province we are building: one that values workers or one that prioritizes private profit over the public good. Premier, you have a choice to make. We urge you to do the right thing.

In Solidarity,

Danny Cavanagh

President, Nova Scotia Federation of Labour