Canada: The Service Employees International Union will further support Brewery workers

The Service Employees International Union (SEIU) will continue to support workers at Steelback Breweries and await the results of its complaints to the Ontario Labour Relations Board and a Ministry of Labour investigation. Union officials say they will not be deterred by a lawsuit filed by Steelback CEO Frank D'Angelo alleging slander and defamation.

"We feel that we have a very strong case with the OLRB and Ministry of Labour and stand firmly behind the complaints we have filed," says SEIU Local 2.on Vice-President John McNamee. "Mr. D'Angelo's lawsuit has no merit and it will not distract us from our mission of protecting the rights and improving the lives of working people."

McNamee's statement comes on the heels of a defamation suit against the union, its officers and its organizing director. The company's Tiverton employees voted narrowly against forming a union on July 25. In the days preceding the vote, SEIU filed unfair labour practice complaints with the OLRB claiming that four workers were fired for supporting the union. In addition, the Ministry of Labour is investigating complaints filed by the SEIU that Steelback owes unpaid overtime to its employees.

SEIU Canada represents 94,000 workers in brewing, building services, health care and gaming. SEIU is North America's largest and fastest-growing union with more than 1.8 million workers in every sector of the economy.

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