Since Monday, June 30, workers at the CN Tower have been locked out by their employer. Unifor, the union representing these workers, said this move has disrupted one of Canada’s most popular tourist destinations as the summer season begins.
Approximately 250 CN Tower staff are locked out. Front-of-house hosts, wait staff, bartenders and more have been unable to go to work. Workers are employed by Canada Lands Company, a crown corporation.
“It’s incredibly disappointing that visitors and local residents alike will be denied the full CN Tower experience, including its dining services, due to the company’s refusal to respect its workers.” said Unifor national president Lana Payne.
Workers have gone 15 years without an increase to their pension and are now fighting for improvements to their benefits and pay. A copy of the 2019 collective agreement between Unifor 4271 and Canada Lands Company shows the company contributes 2.5 per cent of the employee’s annual earnings to pensions and will match any contributions made by the employee up to 1.5 per cent of annual earnings.
According to interviews done by Toronto Today wait staff who have been employed with the company for a decade make about $18 per hour. Assuming a 40 hour work week, workers are getting at maximum $1,404 dollars per year put into their pension by the employer.
The CN Tower’s famous spinning restaurant and other amenities were not running during Canada Day, which the union said brings in thousands of tourists. President of Unifor local 4271, Shan Ramanathan, said this lockout is a blow to Toronto’s tourism industry.
“We remain ready to return to the bargaining table at any time,” Ramanathan said. “It’s time for Canada Lands Company to show leadership and work towards a resolution that values the people who keep this landmark running.”
According to a report by the CBC, Canada Lands Company said they have been negotiating in good faith with Unifor since April and tabled their “best offer” on June 26.
Unifor, however, said they have been repeatedly trying to reach a fair agreement but the employer would not address workers’ key concerns.
Since the lockout began on Monday, Unifor workers have been joined by members of Canadian Union of Public Employees’ Ontario Compensation Employees Union (CUPE-OCEU), which represents striking workers at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board.
READ MORE: WSIB workers strike against toxic workload
“Solidarity arises when we recognize that we are facing similar challenges and injustices,” Payne wrote in a thank you message to the union. “Please know that we stand with your members as you, too, fight for a fair deal that addresses long standing concerns such as secure employment and real wage improvements at the forefront.”
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