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MONCTON-Seasonal tire changes and other vehicle maintenance may be hard to schedule in the coming weeks if Moncton-area dealerships refuse to negotiate a fair deal with servicing staff.
“Servicing staff are what keep dealerships running, day in and day out,” says Linda MacNeil, Unifor Atlantic Regional Director. “What we’re seeing at two Moncton-area dealerships are employers who are digging in their heels and not responding to their service staff’s fair demands for better wages and working conditions.”
Acadia Toyota workers held a vote on Monday, March 14 and delivered an overwhelming strike mandate to their bargaining committee. The employer was quick to return to the table following the vote but did not fundamentally change their offer. Moncton Honda has followed a similar pattern.
“A strike is a last resort,” said Norbert Levesque, President of Local 4501, representing workers at both dealerships. “For these workers to be frustrated enough to want to fight back speaks to how they feel they are being treated by their employers.”
Service centres are known for generating consistent revenue for car dealerships and usually see a surge in the spring when vehicles are brought in for seasonal maintenance, tire changes and detailing.
“These two employers stand to lose a lot of seasonal work and must find a way to respond to these workers’ concerns about fair scheduling, a more standardized structure for assigning work, and stronger wages,” said MacNeil.
Unifor is Canada's largest union in the private sector and represents 315,000 workers in every major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in Canada and abroad, and strives to create progressive change for a better future.
For media inquiries, or to arrange interviews via phone, Skype or FaceTime, contact: Unifor Communications Director Natalie Clancy @email or
(416) 707-5794.
