The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has forced at least one regional district on Vancouver Island to issue layoff notices to some of its employees.
The Comox Valley Regional District has announced that it will issue lay off notices to an undisclosed number of employees who work at their recreational facilities and are part of the United Steelworker Union, according to a press release issued March 19.
Notices are effective today, March 22 and apply to custodians, recreation facility attendants, customer service representatives, lifeguards and instructors. Facility maintenance workers who are part of the United Steelworker Union are not affected, the release notes.
“Following the recent announcement this week regarding the closures of our sports and aquatics centres due to COVID-19 concerns, we had to make a difficult decision to layoff staff given the length of time these closures may be required for,” Russell Dyson, chief administrative officer with the CVRD said in a press release.
The regional district says it will “pay equivalent wages for the next 30 days” to those who have been laid off. They will continue to pay both employer and employee portion of extended benefits for all full-time employees.
“Our goal is to ensure our staff who have served our community over the years will still have access to benefits to sustain their families’ healthy living during this difficult period,” Dyson added.
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