The city of Calgary plans to close cafeterias in two of its buildings because the city says the two businesses lose money.

The cafeteria at city hall and the Water Centre on 25th Avenue Southeast will close in December.

A not-for-profit society has been providing food services for the city since the 1980’s.

City spokesman Donnie Hrynyk says officials want to find another company to run the cafeterias.

“They recognize that it’s important to have something here, some sort of food services here for employees so that’s what we’re working on now, a financially viable method to do that, to provide those services,” said Hrynyk on Friday.

A spokesman for the union that represents the 18 workers, who are losing their jobs, calls the closure puzzling because the books show the society was making money.

Mike Mahar, President of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 583, questioned how a private company can make money at city hall if a not-for-profit was not making enough.

“If they bring in a for-profit operation in here that will be reflected in the product and the prices,” said Mahar.

The cafeterias will close in the middle of December.