Workers Must Be Heard

UNITE HERE's Efforts to Silence Workers Shut Down by Ontario Labour Relations Board

TORONTO, Nov. 5 - Yesterday, the Ontario Labour Relations Board handed Workers United/SEIU members of the Ontario Council a double-edged victory. Since March, UNITE HERE Local 75 has interfered with, harassed and misled Workers United members, going so far as to tell them that their union wasn't recognized in Canada. The Labour Board shot that down. The Labour Board -- which apparently is more willing than UNITE HERE is to recognize workers' democratic votes -- made it abundantly clear that Workers United Ontario Council is a recognized labor organization and has been since members voted to form in March 2009.

"We are thrilled by the Board's decision today," said Alex Dagg, Director of the Workers United Ontario Council. "Despite numerous claims by UNITE HERE that our union was illegal, the Board has recognized what the members of the Workers United Ontario Council have always known. We were a union on March 16th when our members voted to leave UNITE HERE and we have been a union every day since then, fighting to represent our members at work."

Wednesday's decision by the Ontario Labour Relations Board dismissed two motions by UNITE HERE designed to thwart the democratic choice of members of the Ontario Council. Along with recognizing the Workers United Ontario Council as a legal union, the Board also dismissed a motion UNITE HERE filed after a number of workplaces started voting in Board elections to confirm their representation by Workers United.

"Our members have been clear since March," said James Deane, an apparel worker from Hamilton, Ontario and President of the Workers United Ontario Council. "The Ontario Council voted to leave the failed UNITE HERE merger and join Workers United. Every local that made up the Ontario Council also voted and an overwhelming majority of members signed petitions. UNITE HERE refused to recognize this clear democratic choice and when members, frustrated by their tricks, turned to Board elections, they tried this motion to stop the workers' ballots from being counted but the Board has dismissed this as well."

The decision by the OLRB today means that 9 sealed ballot boxes, representing over 700 workers from a diverse group of industries including food service, manufacturing and hotels, will soon be counted. It is expected those ballot boxes will show workers overwhelmingly choosing Workers United over UNITE HERE, affirming the votes already taken in March 2009.

Workers United, which is affiliated with SEIU, is a union of 150,000 workers in Canada and the US who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, and manufacturing and distribution industries. Workers United includes members from predecessor unions like the ILGWU, ACTWU, UNITE and UNITE HERE.


CONTACT: Michelle Ringuette, +1-202-341-7057, or Wynne Hartviksen,
+1-416-510-0887 ext. 265, both of Workers United

Airport Concession Workers Across the US Fight Back Against Unite Here's Backroom Deal With Delaware North Company

NEW YORK -Workers United and Delaware North employees petitioned for a National Labor Relations Board election today to ensure that the 2,100 employees of the airport concessions operator have a voice in choosing their union. The election blocks a backroom deal between the airport concessionaire and Unite Here, another labor organization seeking to represent Delaware North workers. The contract at the airport concessions company expired ten months ago, and the tentative agreement between Unite Here and Delaware North provides no improvements in wages or healthcare benefits. There was no elected contract negotiating committee, and workers had no significant input in UNITE HERE's bargaining process.
"We want to have a strong union. We need a union that we run, that is strong enough to win raises and better health care, and that doesn't cut backroom deals with the company," said Pearline Burton, who has worked for three years at Delaware North's operation in Ft. Lauderdale, Fla. "That's why we have taken action to win a real union with Workers United."
Delaware North Travel Hospitality workers are covered by a national labor agreement at 15 airports. Workers at some units are serviced by Workers United and others are serviced by UNITE HERE. The NLRB election will allow workers to choose which union represents them nationwide. The election process will also halt Unite Here's attempt to ratify the substandard contract.
"I am appalled that Unite Here would try to sneak this deal by 2,100 workers. The proposed contract is not about what's good for union members. It's about dues income for Unite Here and Delaware North's profits. Workers want a union that is transparent, democratic, and able to help them win the wages and benefits they deserve," said Workers United President Bruce Raynor. "We will not let Unite Here sell Delaware North workers out. With this election, workers will have a voice in choosing their union and more input into their contract in the future."
Workers United is an SEIU affiliate that represents 150,000 workers in the US and Canada who work in the laundry, food service, hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile, manufacturing and distribution industries. It was formed in March 2009 after workers voted to leave the failed merger of UNITE and HERE. www.workersunitedunion.org
Source: Workers United Union
CONTACT: Matt Painter of Workers United Union, +1-917-208-2552
Web Site: http://www.workersunitedunion.org/