UPDATE June 28, 2019:
This labour action is resolved and a first Collective Agreement has been reached between the Rainforest Cafe and Workers United Canada Council Local 2347. The OFL boycott has also been lifted.
ACTION ALERT
Email VP Eleni Tataridis and GM Jay Rawal and tell them Rainforest workers deserve a fair contract now! elenit@niagarafallshotels.com, rfc@niagarafallshotels.com
Download a print-ready version of our flyer for distribution
Press Release
On Saturday, April 6 members of Workers United Local 2347 at the Rainforest Cafe in Niagara Falls voted down a final offer contract and decided to strike. Local 2347 includes 95 restaurant servers, bussers and hostesses with the popular restaurant located at 4915 Clifton Hill.
Rainforest Cafe workers have been seeking a contract with their employer for over a year. The predominantly female workforce voted by 85% to form a union in March of 2018. Following the minimum wage increase in January of 2018, this employer started clawing back their employees’ tips and workers responded by deciding to form a union.
“Even after our overwhelming vote to form a union, this employer refused to clean up their act. First they demanded another vote, and when that didn’t work, they tried to stall the bargaining process and target employees they perceived as union leaders,” says Mike Ward, a union representative with Workers United Canada.
The Rainforest Cafe in Niagara Falls is operated by Canadian Niagara Hotels, while the overall Rainforest Cafe brand is owned by the Houston-based Landry’s, Inc.
“We organized a union after years of feeling disrespected by this corporation. Just as an example, recently three workers were sexually assaulted and the company tried to sweep the issue under the rug. Without a union in place, the company does whatever they want and they want to keep it that way. That’s why we need a union,” says server Shaun Watson.
The restaurant workers at Rainforest Cafe are among over 500 hospitality workers in the Niagara region who are members of Workers United.
Workers United represents 10,000 workers across Canada and 150,000 workers across North America. Our members work in a wide range of industries including garment and textiles, fitness, food service, hospitality, social services, manufacturing and distribution.
SOURCE Workers United Canada Council
For further information: Mike Ward, Union Representative, 289-321-0248 or mward@workersunitedunion.ca
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