Canadian Labour Reporter

JANUARY 20, 2014 2 Canadian HR Reporter, a Thomson Reuters business 2014 Labour board rules in favour of Richtree restaurant workers TORONTO — The Ontario Labour Rela- tions Board (OLRB) ruled Unite Here Local 75, the union representing 40 res- taurant workers, continues to have bar- gaining rights at the Eaton Centre's Rich- tree restaurant. Forty workers at the original Rich- tree restaurant were dismissed and told the facility was closing. In early Sep- tember last year, the restaurant opened a renovated restaurant metres away from its original location. New staff were hired at the new lo- cation and the restaurant has been op- erating non-union in the months since its opening. "I am not persuaded that in the cir- cumstances of this case, the union's bar- gaining rights should be extinguished by a move of some 50 metres across the cor- ridor of the mall to a space only recently labelled with different street, convenience or entrance address that presently has no real existence other than on a piece of pa- per," said OLRB chair Bernard Fishbein in his decision. Teferi Zemene — Unite Here Local 75 's leader and volunteer union organizer — said the decision was a huge step for- ward both for Richtree workers and for workers across Ontario. "Hospitality workers are often immi- grants, minorities and people of colour. We come to Canada to work for a bet- ter life for ourselves and our families," Zemene said in a statement. "The board's decision today means more workers have a chance to achieve the dream that brought us to this country." Unite Here Local 75 also represents workers at Richtree's College Park and Bayview locations. Workers at all three locations remain in a strike and lockout position following the OLRB's decision. The union continues to work toward the reinstatement of the original work- ers at the restaurant's new Eaton Cen- tre location. University of New Brunswick faculty strike FREDERICTON — Professors, librarians and researchers represented by the As- sociation of University New Brunswick Teachers (AUNBT) have gone on strike. The labour action follows failed nego- tiations for a new collective agreement. Significant changes to its salary pro- posal failed to spur a deal, the union said in a statement. According to the AUNBT, the university made no efforts to compro- mise on the issue of compensation. "I wonder if they ever intended to settle," said AUNBT president Miriam Jones. "They kept our team talking un- til practically the last minute and then offered no movement. It is very diffi- cult to view this behavior in a chari- table light." Classes in New Brunswick are sus- pended, though some online courses will continue uninterrupted. "I don't understand what they are playing at," said Susan Blair, AUNBT's job action committee co-ordinator in Fredericton. "But it will blow up in their faces. And you know, I don't think our members will be in the least surprised. This is a continuation of the culture of disrespect that we have been experienc- ing for some years now." H.E.A. Campbell, president of the Uni- versity of New Brunswick, acknowledged the stress a strike puts on both students and staff. "Strikes are stressful for everyone," Campbell said. "The decision to strike could not have been an easy one for our faculty. At the moment, we have a disagreement with our AUNBT col- leagues with respect to a new collective agreement, but that does not take away from our shared passion for UNB and for making the university stronger." Campbell went on to say the parties will continue to negotiate and eventually settle the dispute. "A new contract will be signed," he said, "and we will all return to the work we love." FORMERLY CLV REPORTS Serving labour relations professionals since 1956 www.labour-reporter.com Published weekly by Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. Subscription rate: $595 per year Customer Service Tel: (416) 609-3800 (Toronto) (800) 387-5164 (outside Toronto) Fax: (416) 298-5106 carswell.customerrelations@thomson reuters.com Website: www.carswell.com Director, Carswell Media: Karen Lorimer Publisher: John Hobel Managing Editor: Todd Humber News Editor: Sabrina Nanji sabrina.nanji@thomsonreuters.com (416) 649-9348 News Editor: Liz Foster liz.foster@thomsonreuters.com (416) 298-5129 Marketing Co-ordinator: Travis Chan travis.chan@thomsonreuters.com (416) 609-5872 © 2014 Carswell, a division of Thomson Reuters Canada Ltd. All rights reserved. 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