Ontario Workers Fend off UNITE HERE Raids and Win!
The Ontario Labour Relations Board confirmed that 90 percent of workers at seven workplaces across Ontario voted to be represented by the Workers United Ontario Council instead of UNITE HERE. "I don't know how many times and in how many ways we have to tell UNITE HERE we don't want to be part of their union," said Joe Barbisan, a Xerox worker and President of Workers United Local 1414B, a local of the Ontario Council. Votes have been taking place since September of this year, but ballot-counting was delayed after UNITE HERE filed motions to prevent workers' votes from being counted.
Workers want change
Isabel M. Peña
Laundry worker, Western States Regional Joint Board member of 20 years
It's important to be part of a union because we get better benefits, to get representation inside our worksite, and so that employers respect us.
Martín Rubio
Laundry worker, Western States Regional Joint Board member for 8 years
For us the union is the efforts of the members that get involved, not the conditions inside the offices of the locals; we are the real owners of the locals.