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Members of Unifor Local 598 showed their support for all working people – including the nonunionized – when they turned out recently to support an injured worker forced to count cars on the highway.
The worker, who has a work-related foot injury, was told that as his modified work, he must sit in a lawn chair along Highway 144 in front of the non-union construction company where he works and count the cars going by.
“The worker sits on the front lawn in a lawn chair, in the cold, all day and that is his assigned work,” said Richard Paquin, Unifor national representative. “He was told that he cannot refuse or he would be terminated.”
The man has asked that his name, and that of his employer, not be released, for fear of retribution.
On Nov 4, members of Unifor Local 598 and other unions went out to the highway to show support for the worker.
Even though he was normally expected to be there until 5pm each day, he had been sent home early by the company before the demonstrators arrived.
“We were in contact with the gentleman that night and he couldn't believe what we did for him,” Paquin said.
