On Friday, March 13, the Town of Whitby announced that it would be laying off 210 part-time workers as part of its response to the spread of COVID-19.

Laying off workers in the middle of a public health emergency is not the response that the people of Whitby need right now. Now, more then ever, we need our leaders to focus on communities, not cuts, as we all look for strength in the face of this global pandemic. Our communities can only remain resistant to the spread of the pandemic when people have the ability to pay their rent or mortgage, put food on the table for their families and buy the necessary supplies for exercising best practices for limit the spread of COVID-19.

Likewise, public employees can play a vital role in cleaning, sanitation and other duties that will limit the transmission of the coronavirus.

The Town of Whitby promotes the core values of “WE CARE” (Whitby Employees Care)

  • Collaborative: working together to achieve better outcomes
  • Accountable: being responsible for my actions and for living our values
  • Respectful: treating each other with mutual respect
  • Engaged: being an active participant to make this a great place to work

It is difficult to see how denying employees’ income during a pandemic is in any way collaborative or accountable.

Pickering, Clarington, Uxbridge, Ajax and the Region of Durham have all found solutions for their full and part-time workforces that includes continuation of salaries or reassignment for workers whose services have been put on hold.

It is time for the mayor and councillors of Whitby to do right by their employees and their residents and reverse the layoffs to these 210 workers so that they can continue to help strengthen the community in Whitby in the face of this global pandemic. Send them a message below.

Message to Mayor and City Councillors of Whitby

I am calling on the mayor and councillors of Whitby to reverse the proposed layoff of 210 part-time workers in response to the spread of COVID-19.

As workers, businesses and governments find ways to respond to this global pandemic we must find solutions that allow residents to continue to care for their families, pay bills, rent and mortgages, and exercise best practices for limiting the spread of COVID-19.

Laying off employees in the middle of a public health emergency transfers undue financial hardship on to workers in light of closures to business and services mandated by the provincial government.

The financial supports offered to workers by provincial and federal governments are inadequate, and cannot compare to continuation of paid wages. Many part-time workers will be ineligible for EI, and even if they do qualify, EI payments to a part-time worker will not come close to meeting basic financial obligations. It is unreasonable to expect laid-off workers to find a new job in the current climate.

Neighbouring municipalities including Pickering, Clarington, Uxbridge, Ajax and the Region of Durham have all found solutions for their full and part-time workforces that continuation of salaries or reassignment for workers whose services have been put on hold. The Town of Whitby has budgeted for workers wages already, keeping these workers on staff comes at no extra cost to the town.

This is a difficult time for everyone but you have an opportunity to do what is right for the employees and the residents of Whitby. Reverse these layoffs and allow these part-time workers to continue to strengthen their community.

Sincerely,

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