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FAST FOOD WORKERS ORGANIZE IN REGINA
(This article is from the May 16-31/2000 issue of People's Voice, Canada's leading communist newspaper. Articles can be reprinted free if the source is credited. Subscription rates in Canada: $25/year, or $12 low income rate; for U.S. readers - $25 US per year; other overseas readers - $25 US or $35 CDN per year. Send to: People's Voice, 706 Clark Drive, Vancouver, Canada, V5L 3J1.)
By Darrell Rankin
WORKERS AT SIX of Regina's eight Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets have won union certification in the last six months. About 150 workers are bargaining for their first contract, says Brian Christoff of the Hotel and Restaurant Employees Union.
"We've really gone on a blitz," said Christoff in an interview. He attributes the success to educating the public and membership, getting the membership involved in the drive, and the full support of the Western Canadian office based in Vancouver.
"It is very important to protect the rights of workers starting with the organizing drive," said Christoff. The main issues in negotiations are job security and occupational health and safety.
The KFC workers are 90 per cent ages 17 to 24, and evenly divided between women and men; 60 per cent hold part time jobs. "We are constantly in touch with the CLC youth caucus and the Saskatchewan Federation of Labour," said Christoff. The local has a political action committee that helped to organize protests against the World Trade Organization.
Younger members were the main force in organizing the KFCs and are continuing to meet and organize other workers. HREU Local 206 members have leafleted every fast food outlet in Regina. In the last two months, the local has applied for certification of the first 7-11 in Canada, and has organized two hotels and a travel lodge.
A high point in the campaign came just before Christmas when over 150 young workers from fast food outlets and hotels all over the city rallied in support of unionization at a KFC outlet.
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