Mercedesz Mursa is seeking justice.

Mursa recounted her horrible experience at a press conference on May 18 in Edmonton. Her mother was there to support her, as well as members of the Justice for Janitors campaign and a member of the university faculty.

“He [Unicco manager] asked me if I had any witnesses,” said Mursa. “When I said no, he told me ‘I’m not going to fire anyone just because of you.’” According to Mursa the Unicco manager then told her to give her keys back to the other supervisor and go home. “He told me the job was finished for me,” she said. “He told me do not come back here.” Mursa says she was ordered off the premises and had to wait for the police outside, where she felt vulnerable to another attack.

[Click here to see video testimony]

The Mursas have filed Human Rights and Occupational Health and Safety complaints.

[Click here to see legal complaints filed against Unicco]

Barbara Heather, an instructor in the Faculty of Arts and Science at MacEwan University, attended the press conference and says it’s very important that MacEwan look into the very serious concerns that Mercedesz spoke about.

MacEwan Residence is the site of the alleged attack.

[Press conference footage available soon]

Other cleaners also expressed their concerns about Unicco’s alleged behaviour.

“I am concerned to hear about the struggles our brothers and sisters who work for Unicco are going through right now,” said Tarik Accord, a member of the Justice for Janitors movement.

Earlier this week the Service Employees International Union filed an Unfair Labour Practice against Unicco in Hamilton, Ontario. The complaint says workers were illegally threatened with termination by their supervisor for trying to form a union.

“And now we are hearing about this horrible experience that Mercedesz has been through at MacEwan University,” said Accord.

A letter outlining Mursa’s concerns was sent to University President Dr. David W. Atkinson earlier in the day requesting a meeting and a full investigation. She wants to be reinstated with back pay, but says she can’t return to work until her safety and that of her co-workers is ensured.

[Click here to read letter]

The Mursas haven't worked in two weeks and their family is struggling to make ends meet.

Join is is seeking Justice for Mercedesz and other Unicco workers.

Please visit the campaign website.

A worker employed by a contractor at a prominent post-secondary institution in Edmonton says that she and her mother were fired after she reported a sexual assault by a co-worker to her manager.

Human Rights and Occupational Health and Safety complaints filed by the two workers allege that the employer ordered her to wait outside the building for police where she was vulnerable to further attacks.

The worker is calling on the institution’s administration, as well as staff and students, to support her in addressing her concerns.

Join us as we discuss our benefits, how to fill out the paperwork and answer questions.

For more information please contact the Union office at 905-602-7477 Ext. J4J

NOTE: This is  a Toronto-Area J4J Event

If you are unsure if this is the correct form for you, please contact your union representative for clarification.

Click to Download Document

]]> http://justiceforjanitors.ca/2012/04/27/medical-claim-form-for-toronto-city-wide-agreements/feed/ 0 http://justiceforjanitors.ca/2012/04/26/seiu-the-beginnings/ http://justiceforjanitors.ca/2012/04/26/seiu-the-beginnings/#comments Thu, 26 Apr 2012 14:20:16 +0000 J4J@L2 http://justiceforjanitors.ca/?p=870 Local 2 will be celebrating 110 years in our upcoming convention from May 6-8. Here’s a look at the early days of SEIU, and the janitors who founded the Union we are a part of today.

SEIU, a Union of 2.2 million members today, began in Chicago in the early 1900s as a Union of janitors.

In 1921, representatives from seven Chicago unions met to form the Building Services Employees International Union (BSEIU). According to founding organizer William Quesse, the union was important, “For the worker for had no one on his side.” Over 90 years later, SEIU has united 2.2 million workers in Canada, the United States and Puerto Rico.

Learn more about J4J’s history at Local 2.