TORONTO – Bell Media this week reduced the hours of around 250 staff across the country whose jobs have been limited by the Covid-19 crisis, said union Unifor.
Bell confirmed the reduction to Cartt.ca but not the numbers. “Some Bell Media team members have had their hours reduced for the next four weeks to match changes in their workload due to Covid-19. They’ll continue to receive at least 75% of their salary and full benefits,” said company spokesman Scott Henderson in an email.
According to the union, most of the reductions are to Bell Media employees producing TV shows (most of which are on hiatus) at its two main Toronto hubs at 299 Queen St. W. and 9 Channel Nine Court in Agincourt, but the cuts also affect others in Bell Media outlets around the country and some radio folks as well, such as at Winnipeg’s TSN Radio, for example.
The cuts, which started Sunday, are slated to last at least four weeks, the union spokesperson told Cartt.ca. 250 staffers are about 12% of Bell Media’s workforce.
