Port Alberni Shaw Cable office employees escaped the layoff scythe this week, a company official said.
No layoff notices have been issued to Shaw employees in Port Alberni, company spokesperson Chris Kucharski confirmed to the News on Tuesday.
“No employees in Port Alberni have been terminated,” Kucharski said.
“Nanaimo is the closest area that has seen staff reductions.”
Shaw Communications cut more than 500 employees from their payroll across Canada this week.
The layoff notices are effective on April 26, Kucharski said.
The layoffs are spread among management, middle management and technical staff.
Services to Port Alberni customers won’t be impacted by the move.
“Most of the impact was structural,” Kucharski said.
“Our Port Alberni folks will still be delivering customer service on a day-to-day basis.”
Shaw has reduced its number of regions across Canada to seven from 18.
On the Island, Port Alberni staff will now report to the Victoria office instead of Nanaimo.
The layoffs won't impact Shaw Media, Shaw Television or Global News.
Competition from other industry providers and shrinking profits necessitated the move, Kucharaski said.
According to a November 2010 Shaw news release, the company’s quarterly profit was $20.3 million, which is down from the $114.2 million it reported a year ago.
Shaw Communications stock closed at $20.26 on Tuesday.
reporter@albernivalleynews.com