TORONTO Cleaners on strike for more than a week at the Toronto-Dominion Centre have overwhelmingly rejected the latest offer from their employer, Hurley Corporation.
The members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2295 said no by a margin of 2:1 to the offer, which did not address retroactivity and the all-important issue of sick benefits.
More than 50 per cent of these workers do not have paid sick days, said CUPE National Representative Joan Stephenson. Thats something that many Canadians including the Bay Street lawyers who have been running into picketers with their luxury cars take for granted.
Most of the 80 workers are women from Torontos Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities. They earn about $9.50 per hour. Those hired after 2000 may apply for short-term disability benefits only after they have been off work because of illness for three days. Workers hired before 2000 are entitled to 1 paid sick days per month.
The workers are also asking for retroactive pay, which the company has refused. Their collective agreement expired in October 2001.
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For more information, contact:
Miguel Malta, Vice-President, CUPE Local 2295
416-269-8809 - 416-617-5718 (cell)
Maria Coelho, CUPE Local 2295 Strike Committee
416-652-6911
Joan Stephenson, CUPE National Representative
416-606-1793 (cell) - 416-292-3999 (office)
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications
416-616-6142 (cell) - 416-292-3999 (office)
The members of Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) Local 2295 said no by a margin of 2:1 to the offer, which did not address retroactivity and the all-important issue of sick benefits.
More than 50 per cent of these workers do not have paid sick days, said CUPE National Representative Joan Stephenson. Thats something that many Canadians including the Bay Street lawyers who have been running into picketers with their luxury cars take for granted.
Most of the 80 workers are women from Torontos Portuguese- and Spanish-speaking communities. They earn about $9.50 per hour. Those hired after 2000 may apply for short-term disability benefits only after they have been off work because of illness for three days. Workers hired before 2000 are entitled to 1 paid sick days per month.
The workers are also asking for retroactive pay, which the company has refused. Their collective agreement expired in October 2001.
-30-
For more information, contact:
Miguel Malta, Vice-President, CUPE Local 2295
416-269-8809 - 416-617-5718 (cell)
Maria Coelho, CUPE Local 2295 Strike Committee
416-652-6911
Joan Stephenson, CUPE National Representative
416-606-1793 (cell) - 416-292-3999 (office)
Pat Daley, CUPE Communications
416-616-6142 (cell) - 416-292-3999 (office)