Thursday August 25, 2016
For Immediate Release
LaSalle, QC – The IAM has organized the first Toys R Us outlet in North America. The 35 workers are now the newest members of IAM Local Lodge 1148.
“The combination of poor working conditions, salaries just above minimum wage and annual performance reviews that created a lot of discontent among the majority of the workers, led to this organizing victory,” explained IAM District 11 Organizer Philippe Lapointe.
“We were able to implement an organizing strategy with two employees working in this store,” said Lapointe. “This succeeded because they carefully followed our organizing steps while receiving good training ahead of time. The majority of the workers had signed membership cards before the employer even knew there was a drive taking place.”
The unionization of precarious workers is part of the Québec Federation of Labour’s (QFL) $15 and hour minimum wage campaign. “The IAM believes that any workers in entitled to a decent wage and have union defend their rights,” said Lapointe
The next step is to elect a bargaining committee that will be guided by IAM District Lodge 11 Business Representative Luc Frigon in preparation for negotiating their first collective agreement.
-30-
For further information:
Philippe Lapointe – IAM District Lodge 11 Organizer
514-956-1578/514-914-0317
Luc Frigon –IAM District Lodge 11 Business Representative
514-956-1578/514-895-2869
Bill Trbovich – IAM Director of Communications
416-386-1789 Ext #6331/416-735-9765