Dollarama workers demand health before profits during protest

About 60 Dollarama employees and allies protested in Montreal on Saturday to demand safer working conditions in the midst of the COVID -19 pandemic.

The Quebec retailer uses the “bare minimum” safety protocols and even breaks the law in its warehouses and distribution centres, according to Mostafa Henaway of the Centre des travailleurs et travailleuses immigrants.

Henaway, one of the protest’s organizers, said physical distancing is nearly impossible to respect in a distribution centre where 1,000 workers cross paths.

Two workers said the warehouse doesn’t have hand sanitizing stations.

The protest organizers said “in their haste to make profit” Dollarama ignored the risks to employees’ health during the first weeks of the pandemic.

The company was designated an essential service at the beginning of the pandemic, allowing it to outperform expectations and generate $86 million in the financial quarter, according to data published last week at the annual shareholders meeting.

Protesters say Dollarama should continue paying the $3 an hour hazard bonus once the pandemic ends.

Employees make $15 an hour with the hazard pay.

“Essential before and essential after,” one sign at the protest said.

Some protesters claimed people were fired for complaining about the lack of appropriate measures against COVID-19 at the workplace.

Aines Charles, who was employed for 10 years, was thanked for tipping off a supervisor about a number of confirmed coronavirus cases among his colleagues.

Management then allegedly asked the temp agency that placed Charles at the warehouse to terminate his contract.

Another worker claims he was fired after asking for more safety measures.

“They called me into the office and ended my contract after three years (of ) service,” the worker said, in a statement provided by organizers.

Dollarama declined an interview request from Presse Canadienne.

In an emailed statement, the company insists it has “all necessary measures” in place to protect

They called me into the office and ended my contract after three years (of) service.

its workers.

Organizers are simply making false allegations, the statement reads.