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Toronto, May 11, 2021 (Global News)-Yesterday, wine rack workers voted for 86% of the strike. SEIU Local 2 workers said that low wages, basic job security and fairness are all key issues. The wine rack is owned by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan through one of its holdings-Canadian Arterra Wine Company.
Workers said they were required to accept terms that did not solve serious problems of working hours and work safety. Current wages and working conditions have resulted in an astonishing 50% annual turnover rate of employees. Workers are seeking an agreement that will allow them to work adequate hours at a reasonable wage. So far, Wine Rack has refused to provide workers with this basic dignified job. In addition, the management put forward a “manager training plan.” The workers said it was a thin plan. If the influence of the union cannot be completely eliminated, it could further erode their working hours.
Francesco Lo Presti, an employee in the Toronto area, said: “The division of time is completely arbitrary, and the schedule varies greatly from week to week.” This kind of unstable work is difficult to reconcile.”
Lo Presti and his colleagues are asking their employers to allocate time based on seniority to ensure that existing employees can expect enough time to earn enough income to make ends meet. However, the management of Wine Rack insisted on retaining the rights and arbitrarily allocate time to new employees or hired employees regardless of the length of service.
Constellation Brands Canada (later renamed Arterra Wines Canada) was acquired by the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan in 2016. Given that the union pension fund owns Wine Rack, this attack on workers is particularly disappointing.
Radha Bhagat, an employee in the Toronto area, said: “I think it’s great that teachers have a union and can lead a good life.” “I also think that all workers, especially those with our minimum wage, should also have this opportunity. “
The workers will continue to walk to the table and work hard to reach a fair deal, but they said they will not compromise on basic work safety and fairness. They also plan to launch a public campaign to raise awareness among teachers in Ontario. They want to make sure that teachers know how one of their pension fund assets treats workers.
Bogart said: “We will ask teachers not to build their own retirement protection at our own cost.”
SEIU Local 2 represents workers in British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, New Brunswick and Nova Scotia.
Contact: Diego Mendes
dmendez@seiulocal2.ca
416-476-7762
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