Laid-off workers in Oshawa to protest U.S. company’s sudden shutdown

A rally is planned this week to protest a U.S.-based call centre that suddenly declared bankruptcy in Canada, throwing hundreds of people out of work.

IQT Solutions has so far denied employees their final paycheques, vacation and severance pay. About 400 workers in Oshawa found out they were out of a job when they showed up for their shifts on Friday.

A manager told them in the parking lot outside the office that the company was in receivership and that “we are not getting paid, as Friday was our payday, and the doors are locked,” former worker Jennifer Hurlburt said.

“Basically we’re out of a job and we’re out of our pay.”

Laid-off workers gathered at Oshawa’s Midtown Mall at 200 John St. to voice their anger Monday morning. Sid Ryan, president of the Ontario Federation of Labour, stopped by and told the protesters to hold a large rally in front of Bell Canada’s offices on Wednesday.

The Oshawa call centre was under contract to Bell Canada.

“They are entitled to maybe up to six weeks in terms of vacation and severance, plus wages that have not been paid,” Ryan said, noting it could be “nearly impossible” to get the cash from an American company.

“This company is willing to put 400 people out of work just to save an extra dollar an hour or something of that nature,” he said.

“It highlights the follies of the Free Trade Agreement.”

The sudden bankruptcy means 600 workers in two Quebec cities are also out of a job.

Quebec Labour Minister Lise Theriault and Employment Minister Julie Boulet is expected to meet with 140 workers at the IQT operation in Trois-Rivieres on Tuesday.

A spokesman for the Ontario Ministry of Labour said employment standards officers will meet with workers in Oshawa.

Last week, IQT Solutions announced it was opening a call centre at its corporate headquarters in Nashville, Tenn., after receiving a $1.6 million grant from the city.

With files from The Canadian Press