Municipal workers brace for job cuts at City Hall
Posted March 22, 2011 11:33 am.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Employees at City Hall are bracing for pink slips.
According to two leaked internal memos, municipal workers could face layoffs as Toronto looks to trim its 2012 operating budget to the tune of $774 million.
To view the leaked memos, click here and here.
In what has been called the “Service Review Program,” the city has asked management staff to look at what services are essential, how those services are delivered, and possibly increase user fees.
“It is possible that staff will read this to mean that there will be job cuts coming when the reviews are completed and approved by Council,” city manager Joe Pennachetti wrote in a memo first obtained by radio station 680News.
“Until decisions are made and staff notified, all programs and services continue to operate as they currently do,” Pennachetti added.
Pennachetti also handed out a second memo — a list of questions and answers — designed to address employees’ concerns about job cuts.
One of the questions, “Why is the Service Review Program needed?” is partially answered with “City Council has tough choices to make to close this gap. They can raise more money or decrease spending.”
Another question asks: “How will the City maintain staff morale in this environment?”
The response? “This is a challenging time for staff. Despite the difficulties they may face. Members of the Toronto Public Service pride themselves on providing professional, reliable service to Torontonians.”
According to the recent budget, $3 million have been allocated to the possible hiring of outside consultants as part of the program . The final findings from the reviews will be presented to city in September.
