British Union Members Demonstrate at Toronto 407 ETR Offices

TORONTO, July 9, 2013 /CNW/ - Members of Unite, Great Britain's largest union, will demonstrate Wednesday against the awarding of public contracts to the corporations that operate 407 ETR.

WHO:			Members of the U.K. union Unite and supporters from United Steelworkers and other Canadian unions
WHAT:			Protest of public contracts for corporations implicated in fraud, bribery and blacklisting scandals
WHERE:			407 ETR offices, 6300 Steeles Ave. W., Vaughan
			(southeast of Highways 427 and 407)
WHEN:			Wednesday, July 10, 8:00 a.m.

"There are serious concerns about public funds and contracts going to corporations such as Ferrovial and SNC-Lavalin that are implicated in scandals involving fraud, bribery and blacklisting of union activists," said Ken Neumann, United Steelworkers (USW) National Director for Canada.

Ferrovial, a Spanish-based multinational, is the parent company of Cintra Infraestructuras. Cintra and Canada's SNC-Lavalin created a partnership that has secured a $1-billion contract from the Ontario government for an extension of the 407 ETR east of Toronto.

The USW has called on Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne to investigate the awarding of the $1-billion contract, given scandals that have engulfed Ferrovial and SNC-Lavalin.

The SNC-Lavalin Group faces fraud and bribery allegations in several countries and a World Bank ban prohibiting the company from bidding on projects for 10 years.

In Spain, news reports indicate the public prosecution office has compiled a report into local corruption that alleges Ferrovial paid 6.6 million Euros in kickbacks to a local political party.

In the U.K., Unite has led a campaign against alleged blacklisting of union activists by a consortium of companies, including Ferrovial, involved in the massive Crossrail railway project in England.

"We are supporting our brothers and sisters from the U.K. in demanding that Cintra and its parent company Ferrovial demonstrate they will respect fundamental workers' rights, anywhere in the world where they operate," Neumann said.

SOURCE: United Steelworkers (USW)

Ken Neumann, USW National Director for Canada, 416-544-5951
Joe Drexler, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-544-6009, 416-434-7907, [email protected]
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, [email protected]