We, the undersigned, have been greatly concerned with union busting activities which have been taking place at Street Health since the workers at the agency joined CUPE Local 4308 in April 2008. In particular, we are shocked at what can only be seen as a reprisal against Gaetan Heroux by Neighbourhood Link on behalf of Street Health.
Several days after Gaetan and his co-workers at the PAID ID Project sent a letter supporting the unionized workers to the Street Health Board of Directors, Gaetan was informed that he would be forced to relocate to Danforth & Victoria Park. Upon his refusal to comply with a move which seems to make sense only to themselves, he received a letter of termination on December 8th (though he only became aware of the letter the following day).
We view with enormous concern the fact that Neighbourhood Link would sink to furthering the regressive goals of Street Health against workers in general & against Gaetan Heroux in particular. Gaetan has provided ID clinics and drop-in services, and fostered deep relationships with community members for many years. He is a deeply respected, much-loved, and invaluable mentor, leader, and friend to many. Gaetan has been visibly front & centre in the struggle for dignity and justice for homeless and poor people, above and beyond his capacity as a front-line worker at Dundas and Sherbourne over the last 20 years.
In light of the above we, the undersigned, stand whole-heartedly with Gaetan Heroux in his unwillingness to be relocated and removed from the community which he has long served, and demand his reinstatement by Neighbourhood Link as an ID worker in the downtown East end.
We thank you in advance for taking action in rectifying this situation which doesn't merely affect Gaetan, but ultimately, most negatively impacts service provision for the homeless population in the downtown core.
