-

Villa Marconi Engaged in Union Busting as Agency Staff Are Hired to Fill Union Positions

OTTAWA, Ontario--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The union representing staff at Ottawa’s Villa Marconi are calling out their employer’s union busting tactics after discovering agency staff filling in for laid off union members. Members in the laundry department were unceremoniously laid off by management in June, leaving the department short-staffed and under resourced.

“We are seeing the same mistakes all over again,” said Andrea Werlen, Recording Secretary for CUPE 4793. “Our employer has been refusing to meet with the union, won’t come to the bargaining table, and now they’re contracting out our work and sending our members home. We won’t let this go on.”

The union has been without a collective agreement since 2023, with bargaining grinding to a standstill since December of 2025. Since then, the employer has cancelled every meeting scheduled with the union to address the outstanding issues. Members held a rally in June to protest the announcement of the layoffs in the laundry department.

“We are going to pursue all avenues to protect our members’ rights,” added Werlen. “We do this work because we care for this community. We won’t be disrespected by our employer like this.”

kl/cope491

Contacts

Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications
wchalupiak@cupe.ca
(416) 707-1401

Industry:

Canadian Union of Public Employees

Release Versions
English

Contacts

Bill Chalupiak
CUPE Communications
wchalupiak@cupe.ca
(416) 707-1401

More News From Canadian Union of Public Employees

UNIONS NEEDED NOW MORE THAN EVER 

EDMONTON, AB--(BUSINESS WIRE)--“Attacks on working people over the last year show us that Albertans need strong unions now more than ever,” says CUPE Alberta President Raj Uppal. “The annual celebration of Labour Day across Alberta gives us the opportunity to reflect upon and celebrate the working folks who make our province run. “A one-day strike at WestJet last month was enough to show what united workers can achieve. Corporations continue to unfairly rake in record profits on the backs of wo...

“Make a real offer, or pick an arbitrator” - CUPE holds province-wide day of action to call out delays in negotiations with Extendicare

Markham, ON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For months, 8 CUPE locals representing over 1100 Long-Term Care workers across Ontario have been kept waiting for a fair contract. Where other workers would have been able to go on strike to force the employer back to the table, these workers are denied that right under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA), forcing them into a long and drawn-out process to get a fair contract. CUPE’s Extendicare Central Table last heard from their employer on June 2...

Care Can’t Wait! Long-Term Care workers hold province wide day of action calling out delays in contract negotiations with Extendicare

OTTAWA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--For months, 8 CUPE locals representing over 1100 long term care workers across Ontario have been kept waiting for a fair contract. Where other workers would have been able to go on strike to force the employer back to the table, these workers are denied that right under the Hospital Labour Disputes Arbitration Act (HLDAA), forcing them into a long and drawn-out process to get a fair contract. CUPE’s Extendicare Central Table last heard from their employer on June 29, 20...
Back to Newsroom