CKUA Cuts Staff After Losing Emergency System Contract

Edmonton Layoffs

CKUA RADIO FOUNDATION noncommercial CKUA/EDMONTON is laying off at least nine employees in the wake of losing the contract to operate ALBERTA's provincial emergency warning system, reports the EDMONTON JOURNAL.

CKUA built and has operated the system since 1987 but lost the contract to BLACK CORAL INC. when the province took bids to upgrade the operation to include the Internet and cell phones. The loss of the emergency system contract is expected to represent a $700,000 yearly revenue cut for CKUA, 15% of the station's annual operating budget.

Besides the nine layoffs, two other staffers will be reassigned, one will have reduced hours, and two contract employees will not be renewed.

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