Sudbury workers fear job losses in wake of proposed spending cuts

Sudbury city council will get an update this week on a project that is attempting to slice $6 million from the city's annual spending.

The "P6M" initiative aims to help replace the money council withdrew from reserve funds to freeze taxes this year.

But the president of the union that represents almost all city workers, said its focus appears to be on cutting the workforce.

"All we've seen is an effort to cut frontline positions, to cut the positions that are providing the public services that people depend on," Darryl Taylor said.

Members are frustrated because they know where the savings are.- DarrylTaylor,CUPE Local 4705 president

Staff members said they're examining 22 different options, which together would save about $2.5 million.

Taylor said city workers feel left out of this attempt to overhaul how the municipality is run. They are anxious about layoffs, but more upset about not being included in the search for savings.

"Well, of course, everybody's concerned for their jobs but, even more so, the members are frustrated because they know where the savings are."

The city has so far received 175 ideas about changing how Greater Sudbury is run. More ideas will be gathered a public meeting in September, before the final six million dollar plan is set.

A detailed list of cuts is expected to be made public in October, leading into the next round of budget talks early in the new year.