Hundreds to Protest in Hamilton Against Sears Lockout, Scabs

HAMILTON, ON, July 13 /CNW/ - Concerned citizens, joined by provincial and municipal politicians, will gather near a Sears store tomorrow to protest the giant retailer's callous decision to lock out warehouse employees and give their jobs to scabs.

    
    WHAT:     Protest and Leafleting Against Sears' Lockout and Scabs

    WHEN:     Wednesday, July 14, 11:00 a.m.

    WHERE:    Limeridge Mall, 999 Upper Wentworth Street, Hamilton

    WHO:      Locked-out Sears workers, Steelworkers, politicians, supporters
    

"This is an absolutely shameful, disrespectful way for a profitable, multinational corporation to treat its workers," says Darren Green, President of the United Steelworkers Hamilton Area Council, which is organizing Wednesday's demonstration.

"Hamiltonians are standing in solidarity with these workers who are being treated with such contempt by Sears," Green says.

About 500 employees of the Sears Canada warehouse in Vaughan, Ont. - members of United Steelworkers Local 9537 - were locked out of their jobs April 1 after they refused to accept Sears' demands for major concessions. Despite a yearly profit of $250 million, Sears has refused to negotiate over the last four months and has hired scabs to perform the locked-out workers' jobs.

"Sears wants to impose a contract that would give the company the right to unilaterally and arbitrarily change virtually every aspect of our compensation and other working conditions," says USW Staff Representative Terry Bea.

The Hamilton protest is part of a boycott campaign against Sears that is expanding across Ontario.

"We are informing consumers about Sears' deplorable and unnecessary behaviour and asking them to send a message by not shopping at Sears until this company treats its employees with fairness and decency," says Bea.

For further information: Darren Green, President, USW Hamilton Area Council, 905-719-4412, [email protected]; Terry Bea, USW Staff Representative, 905-629-4991, Ext. 227, [email protected]