City of Lethbridge confirms workforce reduction

The City of Lethbridge is officially confirming it has reduced its workforce by 61 full time equivalent positions to meet city council’s direction to find greater efficiencies and cost savings.

The positions were eliminated in June after the City consolidated its 35 existing departments down to 22 departments, and about half of the positions eliminated were vacant positions which had not been filled, the City confirms.

According to local union officials, who declined to be formally interviewed, many of the other axed positions were eliminated through settlement agreements with the City.

“These types of initiatives are never easy,” said Mayor Chris Spearman in a statement released to the media early this week. “We know it is critical work at this time as we look to be as agile as possible coming out of the pandemic. But we also know this has a very real human element which makes it difficult for everyone involved.”

According to a City communique on these matters, residents should not notice any additional service level changes due to this workforce adjustment.

“As work is distributed across fewer staff,” the statement reads, “it is expected that it may take longer to get some work done. While every effort has been made to mitigate this, the City will monitor implementation and respond as required.”

The reductions are expected to yield savings of $4.28 million annually for the City of Lethbridge.