For the second time in just over a month, Corus Entertainment is laying off workers — and this time, cuts are coming to a radio station in Toronto.
The media company confirmed Thursday that its latest round of downsizing will affect AM 640, in addition to other radio and television networks across the country.
“As we continue to adapt to the evolving needs of our business, Corus has made a small number of changes in select markets, including roles at Global BC, Global National, News 640 and talk radio,” a Corus spokesperson said in an emailed statement. “These changes are part of the difficult but necessary work to ensure our teams are structured in a sustainable way, while minimizing disruption to local news and audio delivery.”
The spokesperson did not answer a question asking how many people are being laid off at the Toronto station.
“We remain committed to supporting our news operations, and these changes do not reflect station closures or a retreat from our commitment to news,” the statement continued. “We continue to evolve our operating model so we can deliver trusted news to audiences across platforms as effectively as possible.”
Media workers at AM 640 are not unionized, a spokesperson for Unifor — the union that represents thousands of media workers in Canada — said in an email, adding that 10 Unifor members across the country were affected in this round of layoffs.
Corus cut 43 jobs in July, primarily at Global News stations in Western Canada, in an effort to centralize the production of its Alberta-based broadcasts.
Unifor said at the time that those layoffs would affect three jobs in Ontario, along with 28 in Alberta, five in Winnipeg, three in the Maritimes, two in B.C. and two in Saskatoon.
“This is a domino effect of policy failures and corporate decisions that have steadily weakened local journalism and now, media workers are paying for it,” Unifor national president Lana Payne said in a statement at the time.
“We warned that consolidation would come at the expense of local news, particularly in Western Canada, and that is exactly what we’re seeing.”
Corus recently reported a net loss attributable to shareholders of $36.5 million in its third quarter, as its revenue for that period fell 16 per cent compared to a year earlier.
The company is waiting for approval of a proposed recapitalization plan that would see lenders swap debt for equity in a new parent corporation.
With files from The Canadian Press
