Steelworkers Pursue Court Challenge of RBC Temporary Worker Plan

TORONTO, April 11, 2013 /CNW/ - The United Steelworkers (USW) is legally challenging the federal government's approval for RBC and/or iGate to hire temporary foreign workers to replace existing employees.

"We have applied today to the Federal Court to challenge the federal government's decision," said Ken Neumann, the USW's National Director for Canada.

"We intend to fight for the job security of our members and all Canadian workers. And we intend to shine some light on how the government may have broken its own laws by failing to ensure the conditions for hiring temporary workers were met," Neumann said.

The Steelworkers represent hundreds of workers employed by chartered banks across Canada, including many working in call centres.

Federal law requires that temporary foreign workers may be hired only if necessary "to fill a labour shortage" and if the hiring "is likely to have a neutral or positive effect on the labour market in Canada."

The Steelworkers argue those conditions were not met with respect to the request by RBC and/or iGate to use temporary workers in its operations.

The USW is asking the Federal Court to set aside the decision allowing the hiring of those workers and to stop RBC and/or iGate from hiring more temporary foreign workers until the challenge has been decided by the Court.

Neumann also noted that, "Under the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the ability of temporary workers to remain in Canada is tied almost completely to one employer and they have no reasonable avenue to permanent residency and citizenship."

The USW represents more than 200,000 members in Canada working in over 2,500 workplaces in virtually every industry, in all regions of the country.

SOURCE: United Steelworkers (USW)

For further information:

Ken Neumann, USW National Director, 416-544-5951
Joe Drexler, USW Strategic Campaigns, 416-544-6009, 416-434-7907,
[e-mail]
Rob Healey, USW Legal Counsel, 416-544-5986, [e-mail]
Bob Gallagher, USW Communications, 416-544-5966, 416-434-2221,
[e-mail]