Workers at DEC Fleet Services join the union – UFCW 175

Toronto – October 6, 2017 – Workers at DEC Fleet Services in Toronto are the newest members of UFCW Canada Local 175 after recently voting to join the union.

Over the past several months, the 80 part-time and full-time employees at the Scarborough-based warehouse – which handles and delivers parcels for Amazon – had been rallying to bring a union into their workplace. On October 3, those workers celebrated when they won their union vote.

During the campaign, the employer fired 15 employees for their participation in the unionization drive, including the key organizer in the warehouse. As a result, the union filed charges at the Ontario Labour Relations Board (OLRB) and had each of those employees reinstated.

A number of concerns brought these workers to UFCW Canada Local 175. Among their top concerns were very long hours, as employees would sometimes work 15 to 17 hours per day. Also, favouritism played a large role in the assigning of routes. Other issues included respect, job protection, wages, benefits, and more.

“The DEC Fleet Services workers were determined to succeed, despite their employer’s attempts to scare them,” says UFCW Canada Local 175 Organizer Tim Hum. “After we succeeded in getting the fired employees back to work, the campaign picked up momentum. I want to congratulate the workers on their hard-won victory,” he adds.