More than 30 Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority employees are losing their jobs across the province.

SLGA is eliminating a combined 32 full-time and permanent part-time positions.

Employees in seven communities across Saskatchewan will be impacted. Saskatoon is losing the most positions, with 17 jobs being cut.

Bob Stadnichuk, chair of the Saskatchewan Government and General Employee Union’s Local 6080, said the union was prepared for layoffs but was surprised by the number of jobs eliminated in Saskatoon.

“There are lots of questions and lots of concerns for their immediate future,” he said.

Stadnichuk is losing his job at the University Heights location in Saskatoon after working with SLGA for 10 years.

“My concern was mostly with the rest of the employees, the people that I know in these stores,” Stadnichuk said. “We’ve got single mothers with kids. We’ve got young families just starting off with mortgages and homes…. This is going to be a huge shock for them financially.”

SLGA spokesperson David Morris said employees were notified July 17. The layoffs take effect Sept. 23.

CTV Saskatoon received a copy of the email sent to employees, which states the change to the liquor retail system has created a decline in sales at SLGA stores.

“This was not unexpected. A general decline in the province’s economy has also resulted in a further reduction of sales in SLGA retail stores,” the email from acting president and CEO of SLGA Greg Mildenberger read.

It goes on to say, “Attrition will be used during the coming months to further reduce operational costs.”

In October, changes were made to allow businesses that previously purchased liquor from SLGA stores to now purchase from SLGA warehouses directly.

"It’s difficult news for our employees," Morris said. "The change is about the change in the retail model. There's been a shift in commercial sales from our stores to the warehouse that resulted in a rollback in the number of employees."

The province is currently privatizing 39 liquor stores in the province. The process resulted in more than 150 layoffs last summer.

“We felt that we still had a fairly strong support in the public for our stores as well as the sales through the public liquor stores,” Stadnichuk said.

The four stores in Saskatoon affected are the Second Avenue, Confederation Park, Lawson Heights, University Heights and Eighth Street locations.

Here is a breakdown of which communities are impacted and how:

Moose Jaw:

• 1 part-time employee

Regina:

• 4 full-time employees

• 5 part-time employees

Estevan:

• 2 part-time employees

Weyburn:

• 1 part-time employee

Humboldt:

• 1 full-time employee

Saskatoon:

• 8 full-time employees

• 9 part-time employees

Prince Albert:

• 1 part-time employee

---- CLARIFICATION: Stadnichuk told CTV News 31 positions, including 16 in Saskatoon, are being eliminated and said the layoffs affect eight communities. According to the email sent to SLGA employees, however, 32 positions, including 17 in Saskatoon, are being cut and seven communities are being affected. Morris confirmed 32 positions are being eliminated.