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Head of UNI Commerce, Alke Boessiger has sent a message of solidarity to the workers in which she informed them that H&M has a code of conduct which is applicable to all its suppliers and sub-contractors and gives them the right to organise and form unions.



Boessiger said, “UNI has also signed a global framework agreement with H&M and we have high expectations that the company will act ethically and honourably to bring about constructive change to lives of the Remco employees by allowing them to form unions and negotiate for decent remuneration for a fair day’s work. We urge H&M to adhere to its own strict code of conduct and ensure that workers’ rights are protected.”

UNI affiliate, the United Food and Commercial Workers of Canada (UFCW) made the workers’ desire to unionize official on Tuesday, submitting an application for certification with the Ontario Labour Relations Board.

According to UFCW national representative Kevin Shimmin, the application concerns about 60 workers at a warehouse in Brampton, Ontario, owned by Toronto-based fashion warehousing provider Remco. The Brampton facility is devoted exclusively to supplying H&M stores.

Shimmin says the warehouse workers approached the union about organizing earlier this year, citing concerns around pay, scheduling and seniority.

“There are a number of workers who have remained as temporary employees for a number of years and haven’t been hired on as full-time,” he said.

Wages range from about $10.50 to $12 an hour, says Shimmin, who maintains that the largely immigrant workforce is not being appropriately compensated for time “that we say they should be paid overtime for.”

Read the letter of support sent by UNI to the Remco workers by clicking on the tab “Related Files” above



Read the Huffington Post article on Remco and H&M here:

http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/05/15/remco-hm-canada-unionization_n_1518965.html?ref=canada-business