The Toronto Local Executive Committee (LEC) of the Canadian Media Guild representing CBC Toronto would like to express its grave concern over learning that the Minister of Labour, Kellie Leitch, approved an application by the CBC (October 30, 2014) to circumvent the 16 week layoff provision as outlined in the Canada Labour Code.
The provision exists to offset larger layoffs in one area and specifically affects the Toronto CBC bureau more than any other CBC region across the country.
It is customary in circumstances where an employer is imposing more than 50 redundancies in one area, that the employer provides a 16 week notice period to affected employees thereby allowing them time to seek other jobs and allow the marketplace to absorb the influx.
“The Code provides minimum standards for individual notice of termination obligations and, where 50 or more employees are terminated from an establishment within a four-week period, mass termination obligations. …Additional requirements must be complied with in the case of a mass termination, which is the termination of 50 or more employees at the employer’s establishment within a four-week period. In addition to providing notice to the individual employees affected, as prescribed above, an employer undertaking a mass termination must comply with certain statutory obligations including the provision of written notice to the Minister of Labour. Such notice must be provided to the Minister at least 16 weeks before the date of termination of the employment of the employee in the group whose employment is first to be terminated.”
While CBC has the right to apply for a waiver of the 16-week notice, and legally the Minster may approve the request, we find it insulting. At a time when CBC is laying off so many workers and the media landscape is in flux in general, particularly in the Toronto area, the fact that the Minister allowed this exemption smacks of political partisanship. In 2014, alone the CBC has seen more than 1100 jobs lost. The CMG Toronto LEC feels it would have been prudent for the Minister not to allow the CBC to waive this provision.
The Toronto LEC wants to express its extreme dissatisfaction with the Minister of Labour in this matter and with CBC Management for requesting this exemption. It has only served to pour salt on the wound.
Canadian Media Guild Toronto Local Executive.

Stronger together!