By Tamara Baluja, Associate Editor

Shaw Communications laid off 55 Unifor members who worked at Global News.

By Tamara Baluja, Associate Editor

Shaw Communications laid off 55 Unifor members who worked at Global News.

The company announced 400 layoffs across the country as part of its restructuring program. Unifor, the union that represents staff at Global News, said operations in Alberta and B.C. were the most hard hit, with 25 job losses in B.C., 24 in Alberta, one in Manitoba, three in Toronto, and another two in Halifax.

J-Source reported on the initial layoffs announcement, but the memo sent to Global News employees was short on specifics and Shaw Media declined to comment.

The union notice sheds more light on the layoffs.

All graphics functions in the west are being transferred to Toronto, and construction has begun on the new centralized graphic department. There were significant job losses at Global Lethbridge “as that location is being restructured in what the company calls a new production model for small­market stations,” the union notice stated.

“Our members have dedicated their careers to making Global TV an industry leader, this is devastating news for them and their families,” said Curtis Britton, president of Unifor Local M1.

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