A demonstration was held in Old Montreal on Monday evening in support of the twenty or so employees of Bonsecours Market, who recently learned they will be laid off on January 31. These employees, who were assigned to security, housekeeping and event organization duties, will be replaced by contract workers.
“We have no reason to celebrate this Holiday Season. It’s really sad that Bonsecours Market, an institution, will no longer be served by permanent staff,” denounced union steward, Meriem Sagouma, of CUPE Local 301.
Those who were laid off feel betrayed by the City of Montreal administration, which was unable to retain a permanent workforce and did not do enough to relocate them. The union denounces this mass layoff and has called on the City of Montreal to better safeguard the working conditions of employees losing their jobs.
Demonstrators headed over to City Hall to voice their complaints to the mayor and put questions to members of City Council at the last meeting prior to the New Year.
“We gave the mayor a sweater sporting the logo of our new campaign “Les bleus le font mieux!” Workers at the Bonsecours Market are blue-collar workers and take this institution to heart. We’re disappointed that the City does not recognize their contribution,” added Ms. Sagouma.