By rdnewsNOW staff

Will impact more than 400 staff

AHS picks laundry service provider

Apr 27, 2021 | 8:58 PM

Alberta Health Services has chosen K-Bro Linen Systems as its province-wide laundry services provider.

AHS says that by fully contracting out laundry services significant ongoing operating savings will be seen over the life of the contract. In addition, an estimated cost of $100 million capital dollars to build a replacement laundry system can now be avoided.

“The hundreds of millions of dollars in cost avoidance and savings will be reinvested into top health care priorities including reducing wait times and improving mental health services,” says Health Minister Tyler Shandro. “The former government’s opposition to contracting with a company to wash laundry would have cost taxpayers over $100 million. Fortunately, that will not happen under this government.”

K-Bro Linen Systems is based in Calgary.

“K-Bro Linen Systems has a proven track record of providing high-quality laundry services,” says Dr. Verna Yiu, president and CEO, AHS. “AHS is looking forward to working with them to ensure the long-term sustainability of laundry service in our province.”

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AHS says this transition will impact about 428 full-time, part-time and casual employees and AHS is committed to working with affected staff and their unions throughout this process. AHS anticipates there will be some opportunities for employment with the new vendor.

“It’s truly disgusting that (Premier Jason) Kenney and Tyler Shandro are destroying these Albertans’ jobs after they have put themselves and their families at risk to keep our hospitals operating through the COVID pandemic,” said NDP Health Critic David Shepherd.

“These Albertans are mostly women, mostly rural, and mostly people of colour,” Shepherd said. “This move will pull money out of family budgets and out of rural communities at the worst possible time. Kenney’s agenda of Americanization is bad for our healthcare and bad for our economy.”

(With file from Chris Brown – CHAT News Today)