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“Enmax is using and plans to further use contractors ‘for work required by the Corporation’ without making ‘every reasonable effort to use Employees for work required by the Corporation, rather than contracting such work,’ ” reads a portion of the grievance.

“Enmax cannot be making ‘any reasonable (or any) effort to use Employees for work required by the Corporation’ when it is in the process of laying off (dismissing) numerous employees.”

In a memo issued to unionized employees last week, Enmax cited the fact that the power delivery business is undergoing significant changes, creating a financially challenging environment that required the company to take action.

“As you are aware, our Power Delivery business is undergoing transformation to respond to the changing world around us and meet the financial challenges ahead,” read the memo.

“Our world is evolving, and in response, we are taking difficult steps in order to continue to meet the performance expectations of our Shareholder, the City of Calgary, and our Regulator.”

An Enmax spokesperson declined to comment on the grievance Wednesday.

Enmax executive vice-president and chief operating officer Dale McMaster said the decision to downsize its labour force was made in response to challenges facing the company’s regulated businesses.

“Like many Alberta companies, we are feeling the impact of current business conditions and have had to make some difficult business choices,” he told Postmedia in a statement in response to the layoffs.