Layoffs hard on heels
of CanWest's
takeover of Alliance Atlantis
Canadian
Media Guild | CWA Canada
Local 30213
The ink has barely dried on the deal
that sees ownership of Alliance Atlantis Communications
(AAC) turned over to CanWest Global Corporation and
the layoff notices are flying already.
Last week, CanWest informed a number
of employees across Canada — including four members
of the Canadian Media Guild's bargaining unit — that
their positions would be eliminated as of mid-April.
There had been no previous
indication that the new owner was going to restructure
so soon after the takeover of AAC's broadcasting
operations. CMG officials say they had hoped that
CanWest would take the time to look at all of AAC's
assets — most notably its
hard-working and extremely competent staff — before
moving ahead with staffing changes.
The Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications
Commission (CRTC) on Dec. 19 approved CanWest's takeover
of Alliance's television assets, despite the fact that
U.S. investment bank Goldman Sachs was bankrolling
the deal.
Lise Lareau, national president
of the CMG, warned the CRTC in November at a rally
against CanWest's purchase of AAC that the media
giant "will be under even
more pressure to make cuts to existing and new operations
to pay for the deal.”
Now that her worst fears have materialized, the CMG
will be meeting with CanWest management to ensure the
rights of affected members are respected, and to try
to reduce the number of people going out the door.
If any of the four end up being laid off, they will
receive no less than the severance benefits set out
in the new collective agreement: three weeks of salary
per year of service for any employee with more than
two years' service, and two weeks per year for employees
with less than two full years of service. They may
also be recalled to work if new positions come available
within the year following layoff.
(This is an edited version of a story that first appeared
on the Canadian
Media Guild website.)