City manager Joe Pennachetti is telling his staff “a few” of their ranks have already received layoff notices ahead of a council budget vote that could push almost 1,200 people out the door.

But city staff themselves say the number of workers already let go, or about to go, is higher when you factor in people who have been working on contract for as long as a decade and aren’t seeing that contract renewed.

One Toronto Water worker said staff morale is the lowest he’s seen in 26 years, with longtime colleagues suddenly disappearing and others bursting into tears at their desks.

“People are scared and morale is devastated,” said Mark Cooper, a water information officer who works at 275 Merton St.

“Last week three people were let go, and four people the week before that. It feels like anyone on contract, who they can cut without (their having) union protection, is gone.”

City spokeswoman Jackie DeSouza said two permanent CUPE Local 79 members were issued “layoff notices” in the past 10 days, related to “position deletions that happened a long time ago.”

Managers are also being shown the door, including four recently from the Community Partnership and Investment Program (CPIP).

In an email to city staff sent Friday and obtained by the Star, Pennachetti wrote that, “with regard to permanent bargaining unit positions, there have been no notices of ‘layoffs’ issued in regard to the 2012 Budget staff-recommended budget reductions . . .

“In terms of non-union staff, a couple of special circumstances have resulted in a few notices of position deletion being issued to date; however, the vast majority of notices of deletion will not occur until Council approves the 2012 Budget.”

That draft budget would eliminate 1,190.5 occupied staff and management positions and a further 1,148 vacant positions, dropping the rolls of city departments and agencies to 53,252.

The reduced salary and benefit costs are part of Mayor Rob Ford’s proposed $88 million in service cuts, which include closing some swimming and wading pools, eliminating some programs involving recreation, student nutrition, the arts and HIV prevention, and halting suburban sidewalk plowing and mechanical leaf collection.

The Ford administration has said it wants to contract out as many services as possible, and is trying, in ongoing contract talks, to eliminate airtight job-security provisions that ensure union members classified as “permanent” staff can’t lose their jobs to outsourcing or technical innovation.

The city’s budget committee is considering the cuts this week and will hear presentations from the public starting Wednesday.

Cooper, who has sent Pennachetti pointed responses to his recent missives attempting to reassure staff, said he doesn’t fear retribution for speaking out because he’s financially secure and fed up with the treatment of people who have worked hard for taxpayers.

“We saw from the (2009) strike that the public doesn’t support us, and now management doesn’t support us, so we’re stuck between two very hard rocks.”

Message from City Manager to all staff

December 2, 2011

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I know that many of you have seen the stories in the media over the last few days referring to “layoffs” that are allegedly being implemented within the Toronto Public Service right now or soon and have become concerned about your employment security.

It is important that I provide further clarification regarding the information contained in my message to you on Monday, November 28, and to correct any misinformation that you may have heard elsewhere regarding position deletions at the City as part of the 2012 Budget process.

The staff budget recommendations are commencing today, before the Budget Committee for its review. The Committee will then make its recommendations to the Executive Committee meeting on January 12, 2012, which then makes its recommendations to City Council at its meeting of January 17, 18, 19, 2012. The 2012 Operating and Capital budgets will be approved at that Council meeting.

Therefore, I want to be clear that with regard to permanent bargaining unit positions, there have been no notices of “layoffs” issued in regard to the 2012 Budget staff-recommended budget reductions. However, whatever Council approves at its meeting in January 2012 will need to be implemented, including any position deletions. Under the terms of the current collective agreements, notices of position deletions trigger the permanent employee redeployment processes contained within those collective agreements.

In terms of non-union staff, a couple of special circumstances have resulted in a few notices of position deletion being issued to date; however, the vast majority of notices of deletion will not occur until Council approves the 2012 Budget. Implementation of any position deletions for non-union employees will be applied in accordance with City policies and all relevant legislation.

As I mentioned in my message to you on Monday, there are a total of 1,451 positions that staff have recommended for deletion or deferred hiring in City Divisions. Of those positions, 737 are currently vacant, 714 are filled. Of the positions that are filled, 666 are bargaining unit staff and 48 are non-union positions. A breakdown of position deletions and deferred hiring for City divisions and agencies, boards and commissions is available at the following link: http://www.toronto.ca/budget2012/pdf/factsheet_positions.pdf

Over the past few days I have received a number of emails from staff and I do appreciate how concerning this information is to you, the dedicated and committed employees of the Toronto Public Service. While I am certainly not happy to be sharing news of potential position deletions with you, I do want you to know that we have tried over the past year to minimize the impact on staff by implementing a number of processes and initiatives to maximize the deletion of vacant positions that can be operationally deleted and continue to provide quality services to the residents of Toronto.

I will continue to provide as much information as possible to you as the Budget process continues.

Sincerely,

Joseph P. Pennachetti

City Manager