Former Mama Earth workers say employer used loophole in collective agreement in an act of union-busting | CBC News

Dozens of employees at a Toronto-area subscription grocery service were told in March that their jobs would end eight weeks later. Former employees said the company used a warehouse relocation to carry out mass firings and separate jobs from the unionized workforce. The company said the move to Mississauga followed plans to close its East York warehouse. Because the union’s collective agreement applied only to Toronto, the company was not required to carry it over, according to the employees’ claims. Workers were told they could reapply for posted jobs at the new location. Former employees also cited anti-worker practices such as in-cab cameras during long delivery shifts. The CEO denied any intent to undermine workers, saying financial pressures drove the relocation.

"In March, dozens of Mama Earth Organics employees were told their jobs would end eight weeks later on May 12. Matt Davis was a delivery driver with the company for just under four years when he was handed his notice at work. It told us that 101 people were getting terminated that accounted for every hourly employee that was working there at that time. Davis told CBC Toronto. Looking around, everyone's heads were just down. It was brutal."

"Because the union's collective agreement was limited to Toronto, the company was not required to carry it over, effectively separating the jobs from the unionized workforce. Former Mama Earth Organics employees believe the company used a loophole in their collective agreement to carry out mass firings in an act of union-busting. Those jobs were then posted and workers told they could reapply. You're terminated and then you're told, Wow guys, we have a great deal for you. You can apply for the new place,' Davis said."

"For Ian Goff, another former Mama Earth driver, the decision came as less of a shock than it did for some of his coworkers. I'm disappointed, but I'm not surprised, he told CBC Toronto. It felt like it was kind of the climax of a number of very anti-worker policies. He cited cameras installed in delivery vans, including in-cab cameras facing drivers during 1012 hour shifts, as an example."

"Mama Earth a community-oriented organic food delivery company owned by Fresh City Farms said the move to Mississauga followed plans to close its East York warehouse. The company said the move to Mississauga was driven by financial pressures. Mama Earth CEO, Ran Goel, denied the move to Mississauga was intended to undermine the workers or union, saying it was driven by financial pressures. Move to Mississauga driven by financial pressures, CEO We didn't do this flippantly, he told CB"

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