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"Discrimination seems to be part of their business plan,” says Warren (Smokey) Thomas, OPSEU President.
Toronto (31 May 2013) – The Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE) will proceed with its wage discrimination claim against the LCBO and has asked all casual customer service representatives to sign on.
Union proceeding with human rights complaint
“There is no downside to us proceeding with this complaint,” OPSEU President Warren (Smokey) Thomas told an LBED tele-town hall meeting on May 30.
Thomas has written a letter to LCBO casual customer service representatives to explain the case that is now before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. The Tribunal requires completed consent forms. The union's lawyers request that members complete them. Signed consent forms must reach the union by June 10.
LCBO deliberately creates a female dominated, low wage workforce
The LCBO deliberately created a core workforce of mainly women who work 25 to 40 hours a week in retail stores, but earn 38 per cent less than full-time employees doing identical work, Thomas said in his letter.
“The LCBO does this so it can pay thousands of workers less and restrict their benefits and promotions. Discrimination seems to be part of their business plan,” he wrote.
The union has tried to fix the problem, but even where agreements were made or remedies were ordered, “the LCBO, over time, recreated the discrimination,” said Thomas.
Show your support for fair treatment by signing consent form
The union's lawyers have advised that by signing the consent form, members will demonstrate for the Tribunal that they believe their employer has violated their right to equal treatment at work and allow the union to represent them.
The Ontario Human Rights Code protects individuals from reprisal or the threat of reprisal for pursuing their rights under the code.
OPSEU’s claim of wage discrimination based on gender is now before the Human Rights Tribunal of Ontario. OPSEU/NUPGE is asking for this remedy.
NUPGE
The National Union of Public and General Employees (NUPGE) is one of Canada's largest labour organizations with over 340,000 members. Our mission is to improve the lives of working families and to build a stronger Canada by ensuring our common wealth is used for the common good. NUPGE