Bell Canada is cutting another 100 jobs in Manitoba as part of its latest round of layoffs, reducing its telecommunications workforce in the province. The cuts are part of a broader reduction of 1,200 positions across the country, continuing a trend that has seen the company shed more than 7,000 jobs nationwide in less than two years, according to a union.
Seventy of the affected employees in Manitoba are represented by TEAM-IFPTE Local 161, the union representing technical and professional staff in the province’s telecom sector. The job losses raise concerns about the company’s long-term commitment to Manitoba, where it previously pledged to maintain a Western Canada headquarters, the union said.
“This latest round of cuts is deeply disappointing,” said Dave Eyjolfson, president of TEAM. “Bell is eliminating good jobs, despite its commitments to Manitobans. These cuts not only impact the workers directly affected but also place enormous strain on those who remain, increasing workloads and workplace stress.”
Bell has justified past layoffs as part of cost-cutting measures, but union leaders argue the company is prioritizing shareholder returns over employees. “While workers are being told these cuts are necessary due to financial pressures, Bell continues to pay shareholder dividends,” said Matthew Biggs, international president of the International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE). “This is a clear case of prioritizing profits over people.”
The telecommunications sector has long been a pillar of Manitoba’s economy, providing stable, well-paying jobs. TEAM has been engaging with union allies and elected officials to highlight the broader impact of these workforce reductions. The union has also commissioned a report, For Whom the Bell Tolls: The Privatization of Manitoba Telecom Services and its Impacts, examining the long-term consequences of privatization and job erosion in the province.
TEAM said it will continue to push Bell for greater accountability and advocate for its members amid the ongoing cuts.
