Please join us in keeping up the struggle for Justice for Janitors, as the workers’ complaint makes its way through the human rights commission.

After after taking direction from affected workers and their union, Solidarity Halifax invites you to take part in three days of action to support the Black janitors who formerly cleaned Founders Square.

1. Monday May 28th – Phone-in to Armour Group (902) 422-4424
2. Tuesday May 29th – Phone-in to Deep Down Cleaning: (902) 425-5619 and (902) 830-1113.
3. Wednesday May 30th – Leafletting from 4:30-5:15 in front of the RBC at 1871 Hollis Street(Owned by Armour Group and cleaned by Deep Down)

More Details about Justice for Janitors and Our Demands

In March, 7 of 8 cleaning staff at Founders Square were laid off when the building’s property manager Armour Group awarded a new cleaning contract to Deep Down Cleaning. All 7 of the laid-off workers are Black. The one who was re-hired by Deep Down Cleaning is white.

When the workers brought their concerns to the media and the Human Rights Commission, Armour Group suddenly claimed that there had been many complaints about their work from the building’s tenants. A tenant of the building disputes this, and in any case, no complaints were ever brought to the attention of the workers.

This is racism, plain and simple.

This incident is part of a long history of anti-Black workplace racism in Nova Scotia. Black workers are treated as disposable while companies like Armour Group reap huge profits. Black workers have more trouble getting jobs, are passed over for promotion, are more likely to be fired without cause, and are more likely to face harassment in the workplace. Capitalism divides workers and keeps them insecure as owners of companies can exert total power over them.

All workers in Nova Scotia need successor rights. This means not being fired arbitrarily if a business changes hands. Not having successor rights opens the door to racism and other forms of discrimination in hiring and firing.

Support the workers as their complaint makes its way through the human rights commission. Please contact Armour Group and Deep Down Cleaning and tell them that:

• Armour Group and Deep Down need to issue a public apology
• Armour Group needs a responsible contractor policy with successor rights
• Deep Down Cleaning needs to commit to applying successor rights and continuity of employment in their contracts
• Armour Group and Deep Down should take steps to ensure that racial discrimination cannot become a factor in future contract take-overs

Armour Group can be reached at: (902) 422-4424 or info@armourgroup.com

Deep Down Cleaning can be reached at: (902) 425-5619 and (902) 830-1113 or FastResponse@DeepDownCleaning.ca