Union calls Police to Picket Line at Seneca College in Markham Picketer Hit by Car and Threatened by Driver Less than 2 Hours into Strike by Aramark Workers at Seneca’s Markham campus
UNITE HERE, the union representing striking cafeteria and janitorial staff who work for Aramark at Seneca College’s Markham campus, called York Region Police to their picket line Monday morning after one picketer was hit by a motor vehicle and threatened by its driver.
“This kind of behaviour on picket lines is outrageous,” said Alex Dagg, Director of the Ontario Council of UNITE HERE. “Aramark workers at Seneca’s Markham campus have served the students of this facility around the clock, cleaning their campus and preparing food, for low wages and few benefits. That someone would try to intimidate them when they are standing up and simply asking for fair working conditions is reprehensible.”
Foodservice workers and janitorial staff at Seneca’s Markham campus, employed by the multi-national Aramark set up picket lines at 7 am this morning, striking for a fair first contract. Within hours of the picket line going up, one driver, attempting to cross the picket line with his car, repeatedly hit one picketer, Wes Hannah, with his car, eventually sending him onto the hood of the car. Mr. Hannah was able to get off the car but was then confronted by the same motorist, who jumped from his still moving car to threaten him. When other picketers intervened, the man left the scene, only to return on foot a few minutes later, again, threatening Mr. Hannah.
“UNITE HERE will not stand for this,” said Dagg. “We will not have anyone on our picket line threatened or injured. We called the police, made a full report of the incident and expect the appropriate charges will be laid. Our picket line was only inconveniencing drivers for a couple of minutes and it is ridiculous and dangerous that someone thought he could use his car to take out his frustrations on people.”
Aramark workers at Seneca’s Markham campus have been asking the foodservice giant to address low wages and benefits as well as consistent problems with abusive behaviour by supervisors. However, at the last bargaining session, on the eve of a strike deadline, Aramark responded with a paltry 1.25 % wage increase or less than 10 cents an hour for most staff. At the end of this month, Ontario will raise its minimum wage by 75 cents an hour.
Mr. Hannah was luckily uninjured by the motorist and picketers were able to get the license plate of the vehicle, which was reported to police. Aramark workers have been receiving support throughout the day from staff and students at Seneca’s Markham campus. Students have joined workers on the picket lines and dropped by with food and warm drinks.
UNITE HERE Canada represents 50,000 workers across Canada and 450,000 across North America, thousands of them foodservice workers like those working for Aramark at Seneca’s Markham campus.
For more information contact Wynne Hartviksen at 416-510-0887, ext # 265 or via cell at 416-473-2632.
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