SEIU Local 1 Canada has been honoured by the Greater Toronto Area by the Toronto and York Region Labour Council for its role in organizing new workers.
“Due to SEIU Local 1 Canadas efforts, workers at the Mon Sheong Long-Term Care Centre in Richmond Hill and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care in Markham have been able to win a union voice at work,” said John Cartwright, President of the Toronto and York Region Labour Council “This achievement deserves celebration, as we unionized workers are better protected, served and treated, and we want this for all workers across York Region.
Newly organized members from the Mon Sheong Long-Term Care Centre and Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care joined Cathy Carroll, Secretary Treasurer for SEIU Local 1 Canada, to accept the award at the 2011 York Region Labour Awards ceremony on April 26. Carroll was a speaker at the ceremony and emphasized to those in attendance the importance of organizing the unorganized. “SEIU Local 1 Canada strives to be the fastest growing union in Ontario through our commitment and dedication to organizing. We are proud of our organizing team, our achievements in York Region, and the dedication our organization shows to improving the working lives of the unorganized,” she said.
This award belongs to the SEIU Local 1 Canada organizing department and to the workers of the Mon Sheong Long-Term Care Centre and the Yee Hong Centre for Geriatric Care, who were brave and strong enough to fight for a union in the workplace. We are proud they chose SEIU Local 1 Canada to be that union and welcome them into our family.