January 22, 2025 Letter to Members
Important Update on GDI Bargaining
Dear Union Family,
We have spoken to hundreds of GDI SEIU workers across HRM, and we understand that some of us are confused and concerned about what the next few days entail. The Union is trying very hard to bring clarity to you. Please know, you can contact us at any time.
Things you ought to know:
Bargaining and Strike Action
Tomorrow (Jan 23) is our last scheduled bargaining date with GDI. Our unity and strike notice has put a lot of pressure on GDI to make a better offer. Janitors across this country have won better wages, benefits and protections because of strike pressure. GDI can avoid this strike by making a better offer.
If GDI refuses to negotiate, we will officially start our strike on Monday, January 27. This means: Do not report to work on Monday.
Strike Rally Monday @ Noon at The Wave. We will meet at The Wave (corner of Lower Water St. & Sackville St.) at 12 pm for a rally, free food, music and more.
You will be provided with your strike schedule.
Unfair Labour Practices By GDI
GDI bosses have been visiting workplaces and demanding that workers reveal if they intend to strike or not on Monday. You are under no obligation to answer. At some sites, the bosses are bribing select workers not to strike by offering a temporary extra $3/hour. This is very illegal. We have filed two legal complaints against GDI this week and the consequences will be severe. Additional legal complaints were filed today. If something like this has happened to you, please notify us immediately so that we can stop this.
GDI is baiting workers with a pay raise to not strike which proves that they have the money to make a better offer. GDI is showing their true colours: this is not about fairness or honesty, this is about crushing our Union and preventing workers from having a collective voice and getting what they deserve.
Bee-Clean Has a Deal
Bee-Clean is a janitorial company which also operates in the HRM and is GDI’s biggest competitor. We bargained and signed a tentative agreement with them yesterday morning that is superior to GDI’s most recent offer on wages, job security, health benefits etc.
SEIU Local 2 is the Union that represents the largest number of contracted janitors across Canada. We know very well how janitorial bosses, like GDI, thrive on causing confusion to scare workers. Workers’ livelihoods and our Union are not to be messed with. Your work has made GDI hundreds of millions in profit, and all we are asking for is our fair share from top executives who sit in their luxury offices and have never held a mop in their entire lives.
This may all seem daunting, but history shows that when workers unite, we can defeat the boss. Courage is not the absence of fear, it is rising above despite it. Together, we can and will win.
If you require additional information, please contact:
Tina at toh@seiulocal2.ca or 902-955-9966
Brock at bbodo@seiulocal2.ca or 437-551-8246
Or our office at 902-455-1095