Calgary Community Scheduled to Protest Target's Mistreatment of Zellers Workers in Alberta

CALGARY, ALBERTA--(Marketwire - Oct. 11, 2012) - Concerned community members throughout the Calgary area will gather at two Zellers locations on Saturday, October 13 to protest Target's mistreatment of Zellers workers, and to ask the American-based retailer to respect the experience, service and loyalty of Zellers workers when converting existing retail locations to Target stores.

Since acquiring Zellers, Target has taken a Walmart-like approach to workers by refusing to respect the loyalty, experience and labour rights of Zellers workers. Target has told Zellers workers - even those with more than 30 years experience - that they will have to reapply for their same jobs, in the same locations, for starting pay and standards.

"Alberta needs good retail jobs to strengthen our communities and to create more fairness for working families," says Douglas O'Halloran, president of the United Food and Commercial Workers Union Local 401. "By refusing to respect the rights of Zellers workers, Target is telling Alberta that it's not interested in being a positive force for our province and the future of our economy. We need to send a strong message to Target and that starts with taking a stand, and that's why we are calling on all our friends and neighbours to join us at the protests on Saturday."

WHAT: Community protest about Target's treatment of Zellers workers in Alberta.

WHEN: Saturday, October 13, 2012 at 12:00 p.m. (noon) MDT.

WHERE: Simultaneous protests at two Calgary Zellers locations:

Forest Lawn Zellers:

5115 17th Avenue SE

Calgary, AB T2A 0V8

Signal Hill Zellers:

5696 Richmond Rd SW

Calgary, AB T3H 3P8

WHO: Zellers Workers, concerned community members, elected officials and union leaders, including:

• NDP MLA David Eggen
  
  
• UFCW Local 401 President Douglas O'Halloran
  
  
• UFCW Local 401 Secretary-Treasurer Theresa McLaren
  
  

The United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW) is Alberta's largest private-sector union and leading retail workers' organization. Together with Zellers workers and community allies, UFCW is leading the fight for fairness in Alberta's retail industry through www.targetfairness.ca and other social justice campaigns.