CAW media advisory – for immediate release
October 6, 2010
DHL workers stage cross-Canada protests against company malpractices
(Toronto) Hundreds of DHL workers and members of the CAW will stage a series of early morning protests at company locations across Canada on Thursday October 7, calling on the multi-national courier service giant to stop its systemic attack on workers’ rights and demanding fair treatment for its global workforce.
Protests are scheduled to be held at DHL facilities in Brampton, Ontario; Winnipeg, Manitoba; Regina and Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; Calgary, Alberta; Burnaby, Richmond and Abbotsford, British Columbia.
DHL, owned by German-based Deutsche Post DHL, has gained international notoriety for alleged labour right malpractices, including poor working conditions, discrimination and harassment among its global workforce of 400,000 employees. CAW President Ken Lewenza said that in Canada, DHL has shown a total disregard for respectful labour-management relations.
“The constant inflammatory and disrespectful actions of DHL management toward our members are fuelling hostility and conflict in the workplace,” Lewenza said. “Unfortunately, the experiences of Canadian workers are shared with workers around the world.”
Tomorrow’s protests are in coordination with a week-long series of DHL worker demonstrations taking place in other countries, including Mali, Germany, Denmark, Norway and Finland, organized by the International Transport Workers Federation (ITF) and Union Network International (UNI) from October 6-12. The ITF is also spearheading an international “Respect for DHL Workers” campaign.
Earlier today, the ITF publicly released a compilation of personal DHL worker stories from around the world – including Canada – highlighting instances of abuse, gender discrimination, intimidation and the undercutting of collective bargaining rights, among other issues. The report can be downloaded at: www.itfglobal.org
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For more information about the CAW demonstrations and for times and locations, contact: Gavin McGarrigle (British Columbia) (778) 668-6455; Todd Romanow (Alberta) (780) 932-4033; Ken Stuart (Manitoba) (204) 333-7969; Len Poirier (Ontario) (519) 635-0795; or Angelo DiCaro (CAW Communications) (416) 606-6311
http://www.caw.ca/en/9487.htm
