Thunder Bay City Hall-Staff photo

City Announces Non-Essential Workers Sent Home

Jason Wellwood March 25, 2020 11:35 am Last Updated on July 2, 2025 4:31 am

The City of Thunder Bay has sent home non-essential staff due to the COVID-19 virus.

“Only people assigned to essential work will remain in the workplace, and where able people assigned to essential work, will work from home,” said Norm Gale, City Manager. “They have been instructed to remain at home as of today.”

However the city manager says the decision is not a lay off.

The President of the union representing city employees is confirming to our newsroom around 400 of his members have been told to stay home, however, there is no official number. Gale could not immediately confirm that number as well.

CUPE 87’s Dana Vacek tells us they received the word from the city last night.

“They received word last night saying not to come in today and those that did come in were told to go home. They were not given any confirmation that the collective agreement would be followed when it comes to layoff procedures,” Vacek said.

The union president tells us last week staff that worked at the city-run daycare’s received lay off notices.

The city says examples of essential City services include but are not limited to:

· Emergency Services such as Emergency Medical Services and Fire

· Water

· Wastewater

· Pioneer Ridge

· Transit

· Planning and building by appointment only to facilitate construction

· Critical business functions that support essential services such as human resources, legal, communications, finance, and legislative services

Jason Wellwood

Originally from southern Ontario, Jason found his way here and fell in love with the community and music scene of Thunder Bay over twenty years ago. In between various stints on radio, television and writing, Jason is a dad, a partner and (some would consider) a zoo keeper (seriously, he has a LOT of pets).

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