Winnipeg Tim Hortons workers vote to unionize

Second store in city chooses to join Workers United Canada Council (WUCC)

Winnipeg Tim Hortons workers vote to unionize
The board ruled in favour of the union on July 21 and asked the parties to return on July 26 for the ballots to be counted, according to WUCC. CANADIAN LABOUR REPORTER

Tim Hortons staff at the Lombard Avenue restaurant in Winnipeg voted on June 23 to join Workers United Canada Council (WUCC).

The 15 employees are the second group of Tim Hortons workers to form a union with WUCC in Winnipeg. They join 35 Tim Hortons workers at the Portage Avenue and Wall Street restaurant, who have been represented by Workers United since 2015, said the union.

"The workers voted to form a union because they see it as the best way to improve their working conditions," said Rabia Syed, organizer with WUCC. "Tim Hortons workers deserve fair wages, better scheduling, and they have the right to be respected at work."

The workers cast their votes on June 23, however the ballot box was sealed until the Manitoba Labour Board could make a ruling on the employer's procedural challenge that the single franchise did not constitute an appropriate and viable bargaining unit. The board ruled in favour of the union on July 21 and asked the parties to return on July 26 for the ballots to be counted, according to WUCC.

Workers United represents 10,000 workers across Canada and 100,000 more across the United States. Workers United members work in garment and textile, fitness, food service, hospitality, social services, manufacturing and distribution industries.

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