Tomorrow, show your support for workers facing bully bosses!
The minimum wage has gone up to $14 an hour starting January 1st! But some businesses have responded by cutting paid breaks and shifts, firing workers, and even engaging in wage theft.
You’ve probably seen the news that several Tim Hortons stores across Ontario have been caught punishing workers. For instance, the children of the co-founders of Tim Hortons sent a letter to their employees eliminating workers’ paid breaks, reducing access to basic drug and dental benefits, eliminating uniform and drink allowances, and even cutting employees’ hours of work.
Tomorrow – on Wednesday January 10 – the Fight for $15 and Fairness, the Ontario Federation of Labour, and local labour councils are organizing actions across Ontario to call on Restaurant Brands International (the owner of the Tim Hortons brand) to issue a directive to every franchise owner to rescind any and all punitive measures against workers.
ISAC is supporting these actions and we encourage you to participate! Let’s show our love and support for these workers and all workers!
Locations and times for tomorrow’s actions:
Coburg
- 970 Division St, Cobourg, 5:00 pm – click here for Facebook event details
Hamilton / Dundas
- 38 York Road, Dundas, 5:00 pm – click here for Facebook event details
London
- Dundas & Richmond (172 Dundas St), 3:00 pm – click here for Facebook event details
Toronto
- Markham & Lawrence (3488 Lawrence Ave E), 8:00 am
- Keele & Wilson (2708 Keele St), 8:00 am
- Spadina & College (455 Spadina Ave), 8:00 am
- Bloor & Dufferin (1094 Bloor St. W), 8:00 am – click here for Facebook event details
- Eglinton & Bermondsey (1733 Eglinton Ave E), 9:00 am
- Bloor & St George (264 Bloor St W), 12:00 pm – click here for Facebook event details
- York University (Central Square on campus), 2:30 pm – click here for Facebook event details
- Yonge & College (444 Yonge), 4:30 pm – click here for Facebook event details
Windsor
- 321 Tecumseh Rd E, Windsor, 5:00 pm– click here for Facebook event details
Leaflets will be provided, but bring your home-made signs showing support for Tim Hortons workers.
NOTE THAT THE ORGANIZERS OF THESE ACTIONS ARE NOT CALLING FOR A BOYCOTT.
These actions are part of a province-wide response and will be followed by a rally next Monday (Jan 15) at the corporate headquarters of RBI in Oakville.
Tim Hortons and its franchises are very profitable. In 2016, Tim Hortons stores generated $3 billion US in revenue for Restaurant Brands International. That same year, Daniel Schwartz, the CEO of RBI, pocketed more than $6 million in wages, stock options and other perks. An additional $350 million US in profits were given out to shareholders. Stripping workers of benefits in light of the minimum wage increase is simply deplorable.
Come out tomorrow and show your support for workers in Ontario!
And please also share and promote the Workers’ Action Centre tip line for workers’ rights: 1-855-531-0778
