Warning message

Please note that this page is from our archives. There may be more up-to-date content about this topic on our website. Use our search engine to find out.
Fight back campaign planned

OTTAWA – Twelve cleaning and maintenance workers from Carlingwood Mall plan to fight for their jobs after being thrown out of work without notice on Monday.

“We were called into a meeting at 4:00 p.m. on Monday and told we no longer had a job,” says Ra006c Shank, spokesperson for CUPE 4266.06. “Replacement workers were bringing in their equipment while we were being pressured to sign away our jobs.” Replacement workers earning minimum wages with no benefits were brought into the mall.

“Many of these workers have more than 20 years of service at Carlingwood and are being thrown out of work right before the holiday season – it’s disgusting,” says CUPE National Rep. Andy Mele.

“Carlingwood Mall has a responsibility to ensure fair labour practices are followed by their management companies,” says Mele. “We urge them to correct this unjust situation and we have let them know we will be taking our fight to the community if they don’t,” says Shank.

“These people have families to support, mortgages to pay,” says Mele. “We will be reaching out to other unions, seniors groups, and local community groups to ask for their support – including calling for a boycott of the mall and setting up picket lines until they get these people back to work.”

CUPE, Canada’s largest union, represents half a million workers across Canada, including 15,000 in Ottawa.

-30-

For further information, please contact:
Andy Mele, CUPE National Rep.
613-237-0115
Ra006c Shank, CUPE 4266.06 spokesperson
613-276-7958
Robert Lamoureux, CUPE Communications
416-292-3999