Cancellations fallout
Jets ownership won’t pay casual, part-time staffers
WINNIPEG – True North Sports + Entertainment is doubling down on its decision to shun its casual and part-time employees.
In a letter obtained by the Winnipeg Sun and sent to the company’s 1,050 casual and part-time staff on Saturday, TNSE reaffirmed its position on not paying its staff for the remaining four NHL games plus affected dates for the American Hockey League’s Manitoba Moose, as well as other events such as concerts that have been cancelled due to the coronavirus outbreak.
The letter, signed by TNSE president and chief operating officer John Olfert, states that “for approximately 97 per cent (of the 1,050 casual and parttime employees who work at True North venues), income from True North is not their primary source of income.
“For this group, True North shared that the principle of paying employees when shifts are worked will remain,” the letter read.
The letter said for the other 3 per cent of employees who count on the income for their livelihood, “other arrangements have and are being explored.”
The letter does not mention how TNSE arrived at the numbers it did.
Saturday’s letter follows Thursday’s declaration from Winnipeg Jets owner Mark Chipman, who spoke to the assembled media at Bell MTS Place just hours after the NHL made the decision to suspend the 2019-20 season indefinitely.
“Those people are on parttime agreements,” Chipman said. “They work when we work. So, regrettably, to the extent that we’re not putting on shows and games, those people obviously would not have a call to work.”
Chipman’s comments, coupled with the decisions of over half of the NHL’s 31 teams to pay their casual and parttime staff during the pause, has been met with fierce criticism online.
“We do not want any of our great people to be negatively impacted financially,” Dallas Stars president Brad Alberts said in a release from Winnipeg’s Central Division rival.
Another Central Division foe, the Chicago Blackhawks, announced Saturday that they would be doing the same thing.
“Our employees, whether they be front office staff, or our approximately 1,200 day-of-game staff, are family, and we will navigate this unprecedented situation together,” statement on behalf of the United Center ownership, along with the Chicago Bulls and Blackhawks said.
Other teams have rolled out different programs.
In Vancouver, Canucks owner Francesco Aquilini tweeted Saturday that the organization has created a program based on “individual need.”
“Canucks Sports & Entertainment has initiated a program, based on individual need, that will help any part-time employee who requires support to avoid financial hardship during this unexpected employment disruption,” the tweet read.
The Jets have been joined by Calgary, who have stated they will not pay their staff either during the pause.
“Unless notified by your supervisor, all scheduled shifts are cancelled. CSEC will pay for your March 12, 2020 shift if you were scheduled to work as the notice of cancellation was less than the 24 hours required by Alberta Employment Standards. Any shifts on March 13, 2020 and beyond must be pre-approved by your supervisor,” an email obtained by the Calgary Herald stated. “Alberta Employment Standards requires that employers provide 24 hours’ notice for cancellation of scheduled shifts. CSEC will pay employees where the notification of cancellation was less than 24 hours. No payment will be made for shifts cancelled with greater than 24 hours’ notice.”