Latest news with #SamiaHashi
CTV News
01-06-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Unifor members on the picket line at Best Western Plus in Windsor on Sunday
The exterior of Best Western Plus in Windsor, Monday, March 30, 2020. (Ricardo Veneza / CTV Windsor) Best Western Plus employees in Windsor are on the picket line today in a push for fair wages. 'Unifor members at Best Western Plus deserve wages that reflect the value they bring to the hospitality sector and respect for the hard work they do every day,' said Unifor National President Lana Payne. 'Instead of seeking to improve working conditions, the employer has demanded concessions. Our members won't stand for it.' Unifor represents roughly 40 people in various services at the hotel. Employees walked off the job at 12:01 a.m. on Sunday. Unifor has called on the employer to return to the bargaining table with a serious offer that increases wages and withdraws concessions. 'Hotel workers should not be asked to accept less while the hospitality industry continues to recover and grow,' said Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi. 'This strike is about protecting decent work and dignity for every worker who makes this hotel run.'
Cision Canada
27-05-2025
- Business
- Cision Canada
Hudson's Bay workers rally to demand justice as company terminates thousands and denies severance payouts
TORONTO and WINDSOR, ON, May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor members who work at Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) rallied in Windsor and Toronto to call for urgent insolvency reform and accountability from HBCexecutives who continue to deny workers' severance as liquidation nears completion. The rallies, led by Unifor Locals 40 and 240 which represent nearly 600 HBC workers, brought attention to the devastating impact of HBC's collapse on its workforce and the broader implications for thousands of Canadian workers caught in corporate bankruptcies. "Unifor is calling on HBC to honour its legal responsibilities to workers and urges federal legislators to overhaul Canada's insolvency laws to put workers first," Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi told HBC members at the Toronto rally. "It's an absolute disgrace that executives are walking away with $3 million dollars in bonuses while our members—some with decades of service—are being denied the severance and benefits they've negotiated, earned, and rightfully deserve." Many Unifor members are owed tens of thousands of dollars in severance, benefits, and unpaid wages. Some workers with 20 or 30 years of service are now facing unemployment with no compensation as they await the full termination of the workforce so they can apply for the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), which caps at approximately $8,844. "The WEPP cap leaves workers with significant financial loss while HBC executives and secured creditors like banks and landlords walk away with payouts," said Unifor Local 40 President Dwayne Gunness. "It's an injustice to all Canadian workers who are caught in the middle when companies fail and collapse—the laws must be changed to make workers priority one." HBC moved to cut workers' commissions during the liquidation process but reversed course after the union filed a grievance that claimed that the move violated legally binding collective agreements. While holding HBC accountable, Unifor is also calling on the federal government to address the systemic gaps in Canada's bankruptcy and insolvency laws. Under current legislation, workers are treated as "unsecured creditors" and often placed at the bottom of the compensation hierarchy—behind banks, landlords, and other investors. Unifor is urging Parliament to implement the following reforms: raise the cap on the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), broaden eligibility and improve access to WEPP for all affected workers, strengthen super-priority status for workers' claims in bankruptcy proceedings, hold corporate directors personally liable for unpaid compensation, and to establish trust-held or federally guaranteed funds to ensure workers are fully compensated in the event of corporate failure. "This is about setting a precedent for how workers are treated in corporate failures moving forward—what HBC is doing to its workforce should be outlawed, and we'll continue fighting to ensure that workers are paid every penny they're owed," says Unifor Local 240 President Jodi Nesbitt. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
Yahoo
27-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Hudson's Bay workers rally to demand justice as company terminates thousands and denies severance payouts
TORONTO and WINDSOR, ON, May 27, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor members who work at Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) rallied in Windsor and Toronto to call for urgent insolvency reform and accountability from HBCexecutives who continue to deny workers' severance as liquidation nears completion. The rallies, led by Unifor Locals 40 and 240 which represent nearly 600 HBC workers, brought attention to the devastating impact of HBC's collapse on its workforce and the broader implications for thousands of Canadian workers caught in corporate bankruptcies. "Unifor is calling on HBC to honour its legal responsibilities to workers and urges federal legislators to overhaul Canada's insolvency laws to put workers first," Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi told HBC members at the Toronto rally. "It's an absolute disgrace that executives are walking away with $3 million dollars in bonuses while our members—some with decades of service—are being denied the severance and benefits they've negotiated, earned, and rightfully deserve." Many Unifor members are owed tens of thousands of dollars in severance, benefits, and unpaid wages. Some workers with 20 or 30 years of service are now facing unemployment with no compensation as they await the full termination of the workforce so they can apply for the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), which caps at approximately $8,844. "The WEPP cap leaves workers with significant financial loss while HBC executives and secured creditors like banks and landlords walk away with payouts," said Unifor Local 40 President Dwayne Gunness. "It's an injustice to all Canadian workers who are caught in the middle when companies fail and collapse—the laws must be changed to make workers priority one." HBC moved to cut workers' commissions during the liquidation process but reversed course after the union filed a grievance that claimed that the move violated legally binding collective agreements. While holding HBC accountable, Unifor is also calling on the federal government to address the systemic gaps in Canada's bankruptcy and insolvency laws. Under current legislation, workers are treated as "unsecured creditors" and often placed at the bottom of the compensation hierarchy—behind banks, landlords, and other investors. Unifor is urging Parliament to implement the following reforms: raise the cap on the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), broaden eligibility and improve access to WEPP for all affected workers, strengthen super-priority status for workers' claims in bankruptcy proceedings, hold corporate directors personally liable for unpaid compensation, and to establish trust-held or federally guaranteed funds to ensure workers are fully compensated in the event of corporate failure. "This is about setting a precedent for how workers are treated in corporate failures moving forward—what HBC is doing to its workforce should be outlawed, and we'll continue fighting to ensure that workers are paid every penny they're owed," says Unifor Local 240 President Jodi Nesbitt. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Malaysian Reserve
26-05-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Unifor rallies to demand justice for Hudson Bay workers
TORONTO and WINDSOR, ON, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ – Unifor is mobilizing in Toronto and Windsor to demand that Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) put workers first as it moves through its liquidation process. The union is calling on HBC to honour its obligations to employees by protecting wages, pensions, and benefits. In addition to confronting HBC, Unifor is pushing for urgent federal insolvency law reform to better protect workers in corporate failures. The union's demands include raising the cap on the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), strengthening super-priority status for workers' claims, holding corporate directors liable for unpaid compensation, and establishing trust-held or federally guaranteed funds to ensure workers are made whole. WHAT: Unifor solidarity rallies to demand HBC prioritize workers' wages, pensions, and benefits during its liquidation process. WHEN: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 12:00 PM – 2:00 p.m. WHERE: TORONTO: HBC Logistics -100 Metropolitan Rd, Scarborough ON WHO: Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi, Unifor Local 40 President Dwayne Gunness, HBC workers WINDSOR: Hudson's Bay – 3100 Howard Avenue, Windsor ON (parking lot on backside of Devonshire Mall) WHO: Unifor Local 240 President Jodi Nesbitt, Unifor Retail Director Sharon Walsh, HBC workers Unifor Locals 40 and 240 represent approximately 595 HBC employees at stores in Windsor, Kitchener, and Toronto's Sherway Gardens, as well as workers at the company's e-commerce warehouse in Scarborough. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
Yahoo
26-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
MEDIA ADVISORY - Unifor rallies to demand justice for Hudson Bay workers
TORONTO and WINDSOR, ON, May 26, 2025 /CNW/ - Unifor is mobilizing in Toronto and Windsor to demand that Hudson's Bay Company (HBC) put workers first as it moves through its liquidation process. The union is calling on HBC to honour its obligations to employees by protecting wages, pensions, and benefits. In addition to confronting HBC, Unifor is pushing for urgent federal insolvency law reform to better protect workers in corporate failures. The union's demands include raising the cap on the Wage Earner Protection Program (WEPP), strengthening super-priority status for workers' claims, holding corporate directors liable for unpaid compensation, and establishing trust-held or federally guaranteed funds to ensure workers are made whole. WHAT: Unifor solidarity rallies to demand HBC prioritize workers' wages, pensions, and benefits during its liquidation process. WHEN: Tuesday, May 27, 2025 12:00 PM – 2:00 p.m. WHERE: TORONTO: HBC Logistics -100 Metropolitan Rd, Scarborough ON WHO: Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi, Unifor Local 40 President Dwayne Gunness, HBC workers WINDSOR: Hudson's Bay - 3100 Howard Avenue, Windsor ON (parking lot on backside of Devonshire Mall) WHO: Unifor Local 240 President Jodi Nesbitt, Unifor Retail Director Sharon Walsh, HBC workers Unifor Locals 40 and 240 represent approximately 595 HBC employees at stores in Windsor, Kitchener, and Toronto's Sherway Gardens, as well as workers at the company's e-commerce warehouse in Scarborough. Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future. SOURCE Unifor View original content to download multimedia: Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
