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Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2018
Niagara Falls
Rainforest
Cafe workers
join WUCC
NIAGARA FALLS, Ont. —
About 77 restaurant servers,
bussers, and hostesses at the
Rainforest Cafe in Niagara Falls,
Ont., voted on March 28 to join
Workers United Canada Coun-
cil (WUCC).
"Workers across Ontario
fought tirelessly for new labour
laws and a minimum wage in-
crease. When the minimum
wage went up, this employer
started clawing back their em-
ployees' tips," said Joseph Ben-
jamin WUCC organizer. "The
Rainforest Cafe workers realized
that without a union, manage-
ment still had all of the power.
Workers decided to form a
union to ensure that they have
a voice at work and the ability to
make sure things are done fairly."
The workers at Rainforest
Cafe will join more than 500
hospitality workers in the Niag-
ara region who are members of
Workers United, said the union.
"Restaurant workers in Ni-
agara are joining Tim Hortons
workers in Saskatchewan and
Manitoba who have also decided
that a union is their best bet for
improving their working condi-
tions," said Barry Fowlie, WUCC
director.
Tentative
agreement
at New Flyer
in Winnipeg
WINNIPEG — The union at
one of Canada's largest heavy-
duty transit manufacturers
reached a tentative agreement
with their employer, New Flyer
Industries, on March 29.
"I commend the bargaining
committee for holding the line
on their defined benefit pension
plan," said Jerry Dias, Unifor na-
tional president. "These Unifor
members have earned their de-
fined benefits plans, and it's an
issue worth fighting for."
Unifor Local 3003 repre-
sents 750 New Flyer workers in
production, skilled trades, and
inspection. The facility in Win-
nipeg builds and services bus-
ses used in transit systems used
across North America, includ-
ing most Canadian cities, said
the union.
When ratified, the collective
agreement will cover the period
from April 1, 2018, to June 30,
2022. Local 3003 succeeded in
securing annual wage increases,
maintained a defined benefit
pension plan and increased em-
ployer-paid coverage on various
benefits, according to Unifor.
Windsor, Ont.,
casino workers
vote to strike
WINDSOR, Ont. — Casino
workers — represented by Uni-
for, Local 444 — at the Caesars
Windsor in Windsor, Ont., voted
98.3 per cent in favour of strike
action where the issues of wages,
scheduling and grievance reso-
lution are driving negotiations.
"Wages have not kept up with
inflation, which is making it
harder and harder for workers
to make ends meet," said James
Stewart, president of Unifor,
Local 444 which represents the
2,300 casino workers.
Bargaining began on Feb. 12
and covered wages, pensions,
and job security. With a man-
date set by the membership, the
strike deadline was set for 12:01
a.m. on April 4, said the union.
The overwhelming support
for a strike action is a clear mes-
sage that the workers want prog-
ress, said Unifor.
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Photo:
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Tessier
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LABOUR LENS
A man holds a placard which reads "Railway workers, commuters, solidarity" during a demonstration by
French state-owned railway company SNCF workers in Paris as part of a nationwide strike in France on
April 3.
