Hundreds of Mississauga employees fired amid second waves of COVID-19 pandemic

Hundreds of Mississauga city employees have been laid off due to a COVD-19 lockdown, some for the second time this year.

In a news release released Tuesday, officials said about 1,100 part-time employees working at city facilities have been temporarily laid off since Dec. 7. Most employees are part-time workers in community service.

“It’s very difficult to give this decision to all of us in the hardest year,” Mississauga Mayor Bonnie Crombie said in a statement.

“The city is facing significant financial pressure as a result of this second lockdown. To be financially responsible, we must take action to respond to facility closures and their impact on our operations. This is not what we want it to be. I really believe Mississauga can come together here and now to bring this situation under control.”

The city of Mississauga issued temporary layoff notices to about 2,000 part-time employees in April as the province caught up with the first wave of the pandemic and the province shut down unnecessary services in the area.

As more businesses were allowed to reopen in the summer and after the early fall, some of those 2,000 employees were recalled, the city said. Others, while seasonal workers, chose to resign.

Last week, the Peel Region and Toronto were placed under another lockdown order as COVID-19 cases continued to rise. Under the lockdown, more businesses and companies had to close, including many city facilities.

“With the closure of these facilities and the cancellation of all indoor team sports activities, indoor in-person recreation and cultural events, the city of Mississauga is temporarily removing 1,100 part-time employees from our recreation and culture groups.” Said.

“Some of these part-time employees have been fired for the second time this year due to COVID-19 restrictions and closure of necessary facilities and cancellation of the program.”

Ontario health officials on Tuesday registered 373 new COVID-19 cases in the Peel Region.