Alex Pierson: Ontario Federation of Labour cut jobs, pensions, benefits to cut costs

It seems pretty rich that the very group attacking a Canadian Franchise ALSO once found itself cutting benefits and laying off staff when their bottom line called for it.

The Ontario federation of labour is leading a charge against Tim Hortons organizing rallies at locations across the Province. Today it was a handful, but they threaten this is only the start.

Attacking an individual Canadian franchise, that is controlled by its Brazilian owner, is hardly fair, but to attack random locations, many that have done nothing wrong, is reckless and will hurt the very people they say they are trying to protect.

A couple, maybe a handful of Timmie’s franchises cut breaks and benefits. Not all. And they did that because THEIR corporate boss in Brazil wouldn’t’ allow THEM to raise prices to make up for losses due to Kathleen Wynne’s surprise Min wage hike. They broke no labour laws, and are fully within their rights to protect their business. SO punishing all not only shows ignorance, but it makes no sense. Your battle is with a company in Brazil.

I’m not here to re-litigate the issue. What a couple of Tim Horton Franchises did, is well known. I will however point out the raging hypocrisy of the OFL.

Where was the outrage 4 yrs ago, when a forensic audit revealed they were millions in debt and forced to scale back employee benefits, vacation pay and cut staff?? Any protests then?? Nope.

Seems when the work-boot is on the other foot rallies aren’t required.

In 2013, the OFL, was reportedly carrying massive operational deficits in the millions. The federation, which is an umbrella organization, to Ontario’s largest labour unions, represents some 700 thousand workers. Dues were being paid by those workers and being swallowed up by growing debt. THAT hardly seems very fair. And not why a union worker pays dues.

According to a forensic audit reported in the National Post, the OFL wasn’t able to meet its pension obligations, running an operational deficit three times larger than its bottom line. So cuts had to be made to the 16 person staff. A union source tells me benefits were scaled back, vacation pay wasn’t paid and as many as 5 senior staff were fired resulting in several large law suits.

Did we see any outrage?? Boycott’s?? No. The organization did what it had to do. Sell off assets. Reduce labour and operational costs and get its financial house in order.

So- why, then is there no understanding from this group for the independent business owners across Ontario now facing a crippling hit to their bottom line? They also work hard? Put in long hours? Take risks? And I assure you none have a nice tax payer funded pension to fall back on

Hey-Hey-Ho-Ho. OFL, your hypocrisy has got to go!

 

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