Local Tim Hortons not at fault, it’s big corporations: NDP

 NDP believe franchisees are being directed by the parent company, which it denies.

A student group is calling out big corporations that they believe are using loopholes in labour laws to offset profit losses as a result of the minimum wage hike to $14/hour.

The New Democrats of UWindsor on Friday rallied against a number of Tim Hortons franchises they say cut employees’ benefits and working hours. They gathered at Lisa Gretzky’s offices, the New Democratic Party MPP for Windsor West.

Jocelyn Gates, the rally organizer, said she knows people in various industries who have suffered similar fates.

“A lot of my friends have had their hours cut if they’re full time. I know a manager who worked 44 hours and now she works 26 hours.”

Gates said if a worker works less than a certain number of hours, the company doesn’t have to provide benefits.

In a media release, Tim Hortons head office attributes these cuts to “a reckless few” and called this “rogue group” out for their actions. But the New Democrats said something isn’t right.

“Right now some head corporations at Tim Hortons are claiming that it is just the rogue franchises that are acting in this way, but what we’re not seeing is them taking any action,” said Angela Hzu, an activist with the New Democrats of UWindsor.

Gretzky said she has sympathy for workers and franchise owners, and she believes they are victims of corporate directives.

“Many of them will actually end up taking home less money than before they got the wage increase,” said Gretzky.

The rally organisers want laws that will prevent corporations from taking advantage of employees.

“Employers must provide benefits to employees, a certain level, as well as making sure there is stable work schedules,” said Keira Royal, co-president of New Democrats of UWindsor.

Gretzky said the NDP tabled amendments to the current Employment Standards Act which could have prevented this. The proposals were shot down by the Liberals and the Conservatives abstained from voting.

“Card check certification which means that they would be able to unionize easier. First contract arbitration, so when they had unionized, it would be easier for them to get their first contract,” she said.

The new Fair Workplaces and Better Jobs Act saw the provincial government provide several incentives. It cut the tax levy for businesses from 4.5 to 3.5 per cent. Further, it’s planning to hire 175 more employment standard officers, start education and training programs and publish the names online of employers who don’t comply with the law.

Gretzky advises local workers who feel they have been unfairly treated to speak up.

“Reach out to the local labour force here in Windsor to see what can be done to organize them to unionize, so that they have stronger protection,” she said.

Royal says that the next step for New Democrats of UWindsor is looking into the effect the minimum wage increase has had on migrant workers.