TORONTO – Bell Media announced more layoffs today.
There will be “27 jobs lost and another 22 jobs being reclassified,” according to a press release from Unifor, the union representing Bell Media employees.
“These layoffs are a result of downsizing and tech change. We’re told no programming will be lost with these cuts, but there’s no way the quality of that programming can be the same and the pressure for more cuts will only continue until action is taken,” the press release reads.
“Unifor is calling on all parties in the current federal election to commit to making companies such as Netflix and Amazon pay their fair share to ensure television and news content is created in Canada, just as Canadian broadcasters must do.”
In a short statement emailed to Cartt.ca in response to a request for more information about the job cuts, Bell said it is “not commenting on specifics but any changes we make reflect our focus on making Bell Media more responsive to the needs of audiences, advertisers and content creators, including embracing digital technologies that enhance our agility and cost efficiency.”
Unifor similarly refrained from providing details when Cartt.ca requested more information because it is still in talks with Bell about the cuts.
These most recent layoffs follow the major job cuts made at Bell in January and February this year.
Updated August 18:
A Unifor spokesperson has confirmed to Cartt.ca all job cuts will be made at Bell Media’s Queen Street location in Toronto, which mostly houses the company’s discretionary television services including BNN Bloomberg and CP24. Some of the jobs lost will be from the editorial side as the company tries to “do more for less,” according to Unifor, while others are being cut due to technological change, which has meant fewer people are needed in control rooms.
