HALIFAX, NS--(Marketwired - June 30, 2016) - A rally will be held at the National Research Council in Halifax to protest the termination of unionized cleaning positions that provide yearly pay increases, paid sick days and benefits. The NRC, an agency of the Federal Government, has decided to replace them with a non-union contractor that pays poverty wages and doesn't provide employment benefits.
WHAT: 'Trudeau, practice what you preach' rally to demand Justice for Janitors
WHEN: Thursday June 30th @ 12 PM
WHERE: 1411 Oxford St., Halifax
MLA Dave Wilson, the NDP Nova Scotia House Leader, as well as ACORN (Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now) will be amongst the supporters joining the cleaners at the rally.
The Service Employees International Union Local 2 reached out to the NRC earlier this week to communicate the NRC should require the new contractor, Imperial Cleaners Limited, to offer employment to the current employees at 1411 Oxford St. and recognize their collective agreement.
In an email response to SEIU, the NRC has said that they have "no capacity to dictate who the bidder hires beyond the terms of the Request for Proposal. There is nothing in the Request for Proposal requiring the winning bidder to hire the existing workers."
The cleaners and their supporters believe the response from the government agency is woefully inadequate given that the Trudeau Liberals were elected on a platform to "stand-up for the middle-class and those working hard to join them."
"It's time the Prime Minister and the Liberals practice what they preach," said Omar Joof, a Halifax area cleaner and leader in the Justice for Janitors movement. "They should help create good jobs in Halifax -- not destroy them."
The Service Employees International Union is the largest and fastest growing union in North America, with 100,000 workers in Canada and two million workers across Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico.
Contact Information:
Diego Mendez
416-476-7762