Duty free workers to strike at busiest Canada-U.S. border point

Wealthy private owner of Ambassador
Bridge and University of Windsor trying
to put the squeeze on student employees

Windsor, Ontario - Employees of the duty-free store at the Ambassador Bridge, the busiest crossing point on the Canada-U.S. border, have voted 100% to strike if necessary on Sept. 2 to win a fair contract.

The Ambassador Bridge Duty Free Store on the Canadian side is owned and operated by Ambassador Bridge Corp. in partnership with the University of Windsor, employs about 50 people, all university students. They are members of the Ontario Public Service Employees Union (OPSEU/NUPGE).

Ambassador Bridge Corp. is privately owned and operated by wealthy Detroit business Matty Maroun. The structure, built in 1929, is the largest toll crossing between Canada and the United States. It carries about 9,000 trucks and 24,000 cars each day.

Key issues are working arrangements, the length of the contract and wages. Talks are to resume on Aug. 23 in an attempt to work out a settlement before the strike deadline. NUPGE

Web posted by NUPGE: 19 August 2005

More News
News Archive
Media releases