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The Militant (logo)
Vol. 81/No. 25 July 10, 2017
Militant/David Olson
Striking Toronto Zoo workers June 3. One-month walkout opposed
contracting out their jobs.
New Zealand packaging workers force abusive manager to resign
AUCKLAND, New Zealand — Workers at the Orora Kiwi Packaging plant here
where I work recently forced National Manufacturing Manager Robert
Busson and other plant supervisors to resign.
Busson was hired more than two years ago to implement speedup and drive
down wages and conditions at the company’s three plants nationwide in
Hastings, Christchurch, and Auckland.
Bullying, harassment and abusive behavior towards individual workers, in
particular casual workers, was the modus operandi of supervisors under
Busson. Workers who stood up to company intimidation were threatened
with disciplinary action and told, “If you don’t like it there’s the door.”
In September 2016 young union workers spearheaded a petition drive
demanding Busson’s removal. A majority of production workers — union and
nonunion — at the plant here signed it.
Almost two months later Orora bosses attempted to reach an early
contract settlement, even though the current one didn’t expire until the
end of February. The bosses offered a 6.5 percent wage raise over three
years and a $500 signing bonus. But workers rejected the offer.
The vote was followed by an “alarming” decline in production, according
to the Orora bosses, and the resignations of senior plant supervisors.
Shortly afterwards Busson resigned. Most of my co-workers say this was
because of our resistance.
— Eugen Lepou
Toronto Zoo workers’ strike over job security strengthens union
TORONTO — “We are standing up for the little guy which involves
sacrifices and to make it easier for others in the future,” picket
captain Brandon Bordash told supporters of the Communist League June 3
at the main entrance to Toronto Zoo.
Some 400 members of Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 1600 went
on strike May 11. About half work full-time, the rest are seasonal
workers. The union represents zookeepers, horticulturalists,
tradespeople, administration and public relations staff, concession and
ride operators at Canada’s largest zoo.
The union says that the key issue is job security for newer employees,
against contracting out their work. The board of management of the zoo,
which is owned by the city of Toronto, closed the zoo during the strike.
City bus drivers were refusing to cross the picket line.
More than 1,000 people attended a rally in solidarity with the strikers
June 2 in front of City Hall. Delegates from the nearby CUPE convention
and supporters from other unions and the community participated.
The workers ratified a four-year agreement June 11 and returned to work.
“Although we lost some job security,” Local President Christine McKenzie
told the Militant, “it was a worldly experience for this young
workforce, a majority of whom have not previously participated in a
strike situation. They now better understand what it means to be in a
union.”
— David Olson
Related articles:
Berry workers in Washington win contract, raise, respect
Miners, rail workers in Ukraine fight gov’t, boss attacks
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