Servus Arena, one of the City of Red Deer's several rec facilities. (rdnewsNOW file photo)

By Josh Hall (Twitter: @Vancan19)

work interruptions

City of Red Deer temporarily lays off 63 rec facility workers

Jan 29, 2021 | 5:34 PM

The City of Red Deer is temporarily laying off 63 more permanent part-time and full-time staff from its recreation facilities.

The news comes as those facilities remain shuttered after closing Dec. 12 when additional pandemic restrictions came into effect via the provincial government.

“The decision to adjust staffing levels is never easy, and it is not something we take lightly,” said City Manager Allan Seabrooke. “Without revenue from these facilities, it was a very difficult, but necessary decision as we consider our role as stewards of tax payers’ dollars.”

The interruptions affect customer service staff, lifeguards, program staff, custodians and maintenance workers.

Other City workers were redeployed in order to minimize the work interruptions.

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“In recent months, recreation staff have been nimble, adapting quickly to new and changing public health measures. I want to thank all of them for their hard work and dedication to providing vital recreation services to our community,” added Seabrooke. “We look forward to the day when we can welcome both staff and citizens back to our facilities.”

The City says staff on temporary work interruptions will maintain access to most of their benefits, including mental health supports. The City is working with affected unions, including CUPE, as the process moves along.

In March 2020, the City laid off approximately 170 casual employees, mostly from its rec facilities, a decision Seabrooke said at the time would save $250,000 monthly.

In April 2020, another 150 workers with jobs in Recreation, Parks and Culture, Corporate Services, Planning, Development Services and Transit were temporarily let go.

The City said more than half of the staff affected by those initial temporary lay-offs had returned to work by July 20.

RELATED: Kenney announces restrictions on dine-in, fitness facilities to be eased on Feb. 8

On Friday, Premier Jason Kenney announced the province would begin to ease restrictions going forward largely based on the number of hospitalizations province-wide.

However, municipal rec facilities are not included in the plan’s first stage.