Steelworkers Turn Up Heat on Toronto Plaza Hotel Strike

Toronto Plaza Hotel financial backer is a major Burnbrae egg supplier; union supporters and consumers urged to avoid Burnbrae eggs.

TORONTO, Aug. 14, 2013 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) is taking a bold new approach in an effort to resolve the 11-week strike at the Toronto Plaza Hotel.

The union representing 40 striking workers launched a new internet campaign today in conjunction with LabourStart Canada urging consumers to avoid Burnbrae Eggs until the workers get a fair deal.

"Anybody who has bought eggs lately will recognize the Burnbrae name or some of their brands like Omega 3 and NatureEgg. But what they may not know is that Burnbrae buys eggs from egg operations all over Canada and then packages them for sale under the Burnbrae brands," said USW National Director Ken Neumann.

"Chaudary Poultry, owned by Akhtar Chaudary, is an important supplier of eggs to Burnbrae. Akhtar Chaudary is the father of Toronto Plaza Hotel boss Rehan Chaudary, and has a significant financial interest in the hotel," Neumann said.

"Akhtar Chaudary could act to end these workers' struggle but he has done nothing so far. Until he does, and until these workers get a fair deal, we're asking the public to stop supporting Chaudary's poultry operation by not buying Burnbrae eggs."

Through LabourStart Canada, the Steelworkers recently organized an online petition asking the public to appeal directly to hotel boss Rehan Chaudary to end the strike.

"We got over 1,700 signatures, but still Rehan Chaudary won't negotiate a fair deal," said USW Staff Representative Mohammed Baksh.

"This new petition to Burnbrae President Margaret Hudson takes a different approach that we think will make the difference," Baksh added. "We urge Margaret Hudson to put pressure on Akhtar Chaudary to bring a respectful settlement to this dispute,"

Since Rehan Chaudary acquired the hotel in 2009, workers have reported deteriorating conditions. Almost half of the hotel now serves as lodging to persons on public assistance. In March of this year, a person was found dead in one of the rooms, approximately two weeks after the time of death. On May 27 of this year, a fire broke out at the hotel after a bed bug extermination machine caught fire.

Workers at the Toronto Plaza Hotel, a group of predominantly visible minority women, many of whom have worked for the hotel for over 20 years, have been on strike since May 30 in an attempt to protect their modest wages and conditions.

The new internet email campaign launched today can be accessed at http://www.labourstartcampaigns.net/show_campaign.cgi?c=1938

SOURCE: United Steelworkers (USW)

Mohamed Baksh, United Steelworkers (USW), 416-574-8718, [email protected]
Alexandra Eshelman, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-544-5968, 416-570-9984,  [email protected]
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221, [email protected]