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Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
Bell Media has announced dozens of more upcoming layoffs as part of its ongoing restructuring plan.In a statement released Thursday, Unifor — the union representing over 10,000 media workers across the country — said Bell had given notice to nearly 50 of its members.
Unifor is deeply concerned and outraged that @Bell Media has once again announced restructuring plans, this time, giving notice to close to 50 Unifor media workers.l— Unifor (@UniforTheUnion) June 27, 2024
Unifor said it was informed that 49 unionized positions could be impacted in a move that plans to relocate downtown Toronto news stations CP24, BNN, and NewsTalk 1010 to Agincourt, Ontario."The company plans on consolidating these stations with its existing CTV Toronto, CTV News Channel, and CTV National News," stated Unifor.
According to the union, the cuts impact production workers, ENG editors and supervisors, media services coordinators and technicians, graphic artists, and AV techs, among others.Bell Media confirmed in a statement that the reduction of 43 technicians had been announced on Thursday. "Bell announced in February a restructuring at all levels of the company and in all business sectors," stated a Bell Media spokesperson. "Since then, Bell has been working with its unions on the implications for our unionized workforce."Bell did not provide further comment on Unifor's report that 49 unionized positions were at risk.
The company said that no departures will occur until the period between August 30 to September 27.It added it will provide training and will be "offering voluntary severance packages and eliminating vacant positions wherever possible to mitigate the impact on our team members.
"Unifor National President Lana Payne said the cuts are "yet another blow to journalism and democracy."This comes after Bell cut 4,800 jobs earlier this year and 1,300 jobs in June 2023."Restructuring decisions are incredibly tough for all of us because it affects the people we work with and care about. We know these decisions are hardest on those leaving Bell," wrote BCE Inc. President and CEO Mirko Bibic in a statement in February.At the time, Bibic explained that the company's operating environment has become more complicated, and it faces regulatory challenges in a tough economy.With files from Isabelle Docto.
Last edited by ToRon (June 28, 2024 4:02 pm)
- RadioActive
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
My favourite part of this latest Bell Media outrage:
ToRon wrote:
The company said that no departures will occur until the period between August 30 to September 27.
Great. How'd you like to work there for the next two or three months knowing the noose is lowering for your neck? And how hard are you going to work for the people kicking you to the curb? At least they'll get a paycheque and a chance to look for non-existent jobs elsewhere while they wait.
I'm sure there's a bonus for the higher-ups for cutting costs - again.
- Ian
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
I can imagine fewer live in-studio guests and contributors if they have to drive to Scarborough. Probably more impact to TV than radio, where many contributors already use a high-end remote sdet-up.
- Binson Echorec
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
At least they'll get a paycheque and a chance to look for non-existent jobs elsewhere while they wait.
That's more than the staff at AM730 and 880 Edmonton got...
- ckg927
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
Gee, I wonder what Dave Agar's take on THIS move is... 
- Saul
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
Gee, I wonder what Dave Agar's take on THIS move is...
I don't know. Back in high school, when we grew agar in a petri dish, it never expressed an opinion. 
- ckg927
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
Gee, I wonder what Dave Agar's take on THIS move is...
I don't know. Back in high school, when we grew agar in a petri dish, it never expressed an opinion.
Recall that when CFRB(and their sister station in Montreal, CJAD)suffered more than a few job losses a few years ago, Agar went nuclear and said that Bell Media basically disembowled two of the biggest radio newsrooms in Canada. "One of them has my name on it." And he wanted Bell Media to take his name OFF the CFRB newsroom.
- betaylored
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Re: Bell Media to cut dozens of jobs | CFRB Virgin move
Dave Agar does good work on Twitter/X these days.
It was quite a long time ago but I still remember how much I loved listening to 1010 every weekday morning from 5:00-5:30 when Robert Turner and Dave would discuss the latest news stories.
The good old days when CFRB was still CFRB.