Cadillac Fairview Christmas Message to its Workers - Freeze

TORONTO , Dec. 11 /CNW Telbec/ - Cadillac Fairview has stooped to new lows in its ongoing battle with 61 workers at the Toronto-Dominion Centre, says Dave Coles , National President of the Communications, Energy and Paperworkers Union of Canada .

The company locked out the workers (who average more than 20 years' service) in June, and terminated them a month later. Now Cadillac Fairview has pressured the City of Toronto into taking away their winter shelter.

On Dec. 10 , the picketers were given 24 hours to remove their shelter, which was intended to shield them from the cold over the winter months. The area where they are holding their protest does not permit them to have a trailer stationed there so that they can warm themselves in this extreme weather.

"These actions are particularly disturbing given the cold snap of the last few days," says Coles. "After all we are dealing with human beings here. How much contempt and hatred can one company hold for its workers?"

Cadillac Fairview had record profits of $930 million dollars last year. "They have fists full of cash, but not morals, ethics or scruples," says Coles.

" Santa Claus gave you a lump of coal if you were bad but at least you could keep warm. We did not even get that much from this greedy company," adds Zoran Grgar, National Representative assigned to the bargaining unit.

CEP is preparing to launch an advertising campaign to denounce Cadillac Fairview for its horrid treatment of workers. The union will be calling on shoppers to pay particular attention to who owns the shopping centres they frequent.

"Our people will be doing their best to make sure shoppers make informed choices so look for them in the shopping malls during the next few weeks," says Grgar.

"Cadillac Fairview acted like a typical land baron and used its wealth and power to get us out of our shelter and into the cold, now we will use the means we have at our disposal to get the message out from the inside."

For further information: Dave Coles, [phone]; Zoran Grgar, [phone]