Manitoba Hydro will begin issuing temporary layoff notices Friday (June 5) to members of two of its unions in an effort to support the province’s response to COVID-19.
Notices will begin to be issued to members of IBEW and UNIFOR, that will see approximately 200 staff being temporarily laid off for four months. It’s a significant reduction from the 700 layoffs the utility was originally anticipating.
Discussions are continuing with CUPE with further information expected next week. In addition, the corporation did arrive at an agreement in principle with the Association of Manitoba Hydro Staff and Supervisory Employees (AMHSSE) to achieve savings in that group without layoffs. Members of AMHSSE, the Manitoba Hydro Professional Engineers’ Association (MHPEA) and Corporate Exempt staff will take three unpaid days off in lieu of layoffs in their areas. These groups will see their paychecks reduced by approximately 1.2 hours per pay period commencing June 25 until the end of this fiscal year, March 31, 2021.
The first round of layoffs are anticipated to begin within the next two to three weeks.
