Bell informed Sports Network (RDS) technicians on Monday that 35 positions are affected by the decision announced in February to reduce the overall workforce at BCE by 9%.
Posted at 1:25 a.m.
Updated at 12:00 p.m.
However, no departure will take place at RDS before August 31, indicates the management of the Bell Media sports channel.
BCE’s big boss, Mirko Bibic, announced at the beginning of February the largest workforce restructuring initiative within the organization in nearly 30 years.
The Montreal telecommunications company created a shock by revealing its intention to cut 4,800 jobs, cuts affecting all sectors of the organization’s activity.
To explain the decision, Mirko Bibic notably pointed out that Bell’s advertising revenues fell by 140 million in 2023 compared to the previous year.
Bell Media spokesperson Katia Dionne told The Press Monday that executives have since been working with the company’s unions “on the consequences for the unionized workforce.”
She specifies that Bell Media will work with the union at RDS to try to mitigate the impact on affected employees by offering training options and voluntary severance packages and eliminating vacant positions where possible.
Three unions
There are three unions at RDS. They are all affiliated with the CSN. There is the union of employees of the routing operations department, with around 15 employees, that of the news room, which brings together between 80 and 100 people, and the SERDS (union of employees of the Sports Network, technical section), which is the most important. This union has approximately 175 members.
CSN management did not immediately wish to comment on the cuts. The communications advisor at the CSN, Ève-Marie Lacasse, indicates that the SERDS first intends to take stock with its members on Tuesday.
Katia Dionne assures that Bell Media respects and will continue to respect all its obligations under collective agreements and to comply with all applicable federal laws.
