More layoffs hit Travel Manitoba

Five staff members have been lost in 2012 alone.

Winnipeg (18 June 2012) - Travel Manitoba has announced it is laying off staff due a budget shortfall caused by a reduction in federal funding.

Earlier this year, two staff took a voluntary discontinuance package and on June 11 three more members were informed they were being laid off causing great concern to the Manitoba Government and General Employees' Union (MGEU/NUPGE) President Lois Wales.

“The corporation has known that federal funding for these programs would end in 2012, yet they did nothing to prepare for this. And now good hard-working people are losing their jobs. It’s maddening,” said Wales.

In addition to the staffing cuts, Travel Manitoba has also said it would make up for the budget shortfall by cutting some programming. Specifically, the crown corporation was going to significantly reduce its international promotional efforts.

“That’s crazy!” said Wales. “Their mandate is to market Manitoba as a desirable tourism destination. How can you do that without attracting international tourists?”

The staff who are recently laid off will be provided four weeks’ pay, in lieu of notice, as well as severance pay as per the collective agreement.

The MGEU/NUPGE wants to know how the Crown Corporation will continue to operate under its current mandate without some kind of additional government funding and will be raising the issue at the next joint council meeting with the Province in July.

Travel Manitoba was created as a Crown Corporation just over seven years ago. The MGEU/NUPGE now represents 27 members at the crown corporation.

NUPGE

The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE