Sin,
Bob Cole
Canadiens lay off employees after cancellation of season
February 24, 2005
MONTREAL (AP) -- The Montreal Canadiens laid off an unspecified number of employees on Thursday, more than a week after the NHL season was canceled because of the lockout.
Team spokesman Dominick Saillant wouldn't disclose how many of the 140 full-time employees were let go, but communications coordinator Frederic Daigle was among those laid off.
``It's a sad day for the Canadiens organization,'' team president Pierre Boivin said in a statement. ``We were forced to let go some loyal employees due to an ongoing labor dispute.
``We offered them support and will help them the best we can in their search for a new job.''
The employees were given severance packages.
Before the layoffs, the Canadiens had lost 30 employees since the start of the season. All employees, including management, were put on a four-day work week when the lockout began in September.
Teams around the league have made different choices in the face of the lockout, some laying off staff in September and others reducing work weeks.