About a half dozen protesters were outside of the Broadway and Laurel location of Tim Hortons to protest cuts against some employees in Ontario. Photo Dan Toulgoet
The Tim Hortons tiff that’s the talk of Ontario spilled over to Vancouver streets Friday morning.
A half dozen protesters camped outside the Broadway and Laurel Street location to lend solidarity to employees in Ontario who are experiencing wage cutbacks, lost benefits and paid breaks and uniform and drink allowances.
Employees in Ontario are suggesting those cutbacks are happening to offset that province’s minimum wage increase.
Placards outside the Broadway location read, “Double double trouble,” “Customers against the cuts” and “Shame on you Tim Hortons.”
“This has not gone well in some franchises because they’ve found ways to claw back the increase so that they can maintain their bottom line,” Leadnow protest organizer Jim Edmonson told the Courier Friday.
Ontario’s minimum wage went from $11.60 to $14 an hour on Jan. 1. Cutbacks at some Ontario franchises came to light within the first few days of 2018.
Restaurant Brands International owns Tin Hortons and Burger King. It has since distanced itself from the flap in Ontario, suggesting the controversy is the result of a few disgruntled franchisees.
A protest similar to the one on Broadway happened at Commercial Drive and First Avenue. Edmonson suggested 50 other protests took place across Canada this morning.
“I’m a school counsellor and for years I would be organizing the Tim Hortons kid that goes to summer camp,” he said. “This is a family brand, this is like a neighbourhood café. It’s irreconcilable. It’s not
right.”
B.C. Federation of Labour president Irene Lanzinger was scheduled to speak at the East Vancouver protest on Friday morning and issued a statement about the nation-wide movement on Thursday.
“It’s time to send Tim Hortons and its parent company, Restaurant Brands International (RBI), a strong message — stop punishing your workers,” Lanzinger’s statement reads.
B.C.’s minimum wage was increased by 50 cents in September 2017 and is now $11.35 per hour. The B.C. NDP campaigned on a pledge to implement a $15 minimum wage by 2021. A province-wide consultation called the Fair Wages Commission was in seven B.C. cities over November and December last year to gauge feedback on how to get to $15 an hour by 2021. Its first report to Labour Minister Harry Bains is expected this month.
jkurucz@vancourier.com
