Walmart cleaning staff fired

Photo: Contributed

The maintenance staff at Walmarts across Canada were told this week their current positions are being eliminated.

Walmart Canada tells Castanet the company chose to move its store-cleaning services to a private contractor, Modern Cleaning Concept, based in Montreal.

“We always look for ways to improve our business with one goal in mind – to serve our customer better,” said Anika Malik with Walmart.

“This means a better experience and lower prices. We are implementing changes to store cleaning services that will allow us to improve the efficiency of store operations and provide a better experience for our customers.”

While Malik admits some of their associates "have been impacted as a result of these changes,” she claims the company is helping those affected find other work.

“We are committed to supporting them and accommodating where possible with other opportunities in our stores or with our third party supplier of cleaning services,” said Malik.

“Walmart associates currently in cleaning roles will have the opportunity to transition to available cleaning roles with Modern Cleaning Concept. Associates who do not transfer to the cleaning service will be considered for another position with Walmart, if they wish to apply.”

However, according to an anonymous employee at the West Kelowna Walmart, all the maintenance staff were fired with little support and simply told they could apply for another job, if one is posted.

Malik said 11 employees at the Kelowna store will be impacted by the change.