TORONTO, Sept. 22, 2017 /CNW/ - Personal Trainers at
GoodLife Fitness will take to the streets on Sunday, September 24 at 11:00 am with their supporters and clients in a
"Fun Run for Paid Sick Days" as part of their Respect Fitness
Workers campaign.
Last year, nearly 650 trainers in Toronto, Ajax
and Peterborough formed the first
fitness professionals' union in North
America. They have negotiated with GoodLife for nearly a
year, but the health club company has made no significant movement
on the key issue of paid sick days.
"Forcing trainers to choose whether to pay their rent or work
while they are sick or injured puts both trainers and our clients
at risk," says veteran trainer Eris Collins, a member of the
Union's bargaining team. "All workers need paid sick days."
GoodLife presents itself as a "caring" company that prioritizes
health and wellness. Jane Riddell,
GoodLife's Chief Operating Officer, has stated that, "People who
are healthy and fit are more productive at work. They're generally
happier and they contribute more to society. We are in a unique
position because we are a fitness company. So we believe in living
fit, healthy lives, and we encourage all our associates to do
exactly that."
Despite this claim, the reality is that GoodLife does not extend
WSIB coverage to its workers in Ontario, and with no paid sick days its
trainers face potentially devastating financial costs if they miss
work to recover from illness or injury, including workplace
injuries.
"By not providing paid sick days, we believe GoodLife is
prioritizing its own profits over the physical health and safety of
its clients and its staff," says Union Representative Adrie Naylor. "If companies as rich as GoodLife
won't address this issue, then we call on the Provincial government
to force them to by legislating seven paid sick days for
Ontario's workers." This call
echoes the demands of the Ontario Federation of Labour's Make It
Fair campaign and the Fight for $15
and Fairness campaign, which Workers United is supporting.
The example of GoodLife personal trainer DeJanai Love, who
suffered a concussion due to a workplace injury and was forced to
take unpaid sick days before returning to work while still
recovering, was raised at Queen's Park in May by NDP Labour Critic
and MPP Cindy Forster, who encouraged the Provincial government to
legislate paid emergency leave days.
Trainers will lead the run through the streets of downtown
Toronto, beginning outside Union
Station, stopping at five downtown GoodLife locations on their way
to Dundas Square to talk to members and the public about the
negative impact of having no protection against the financial cost
of being sick or injured.
RELATED LINKS
www.workersunitedunion.ca/goodlife;
www.fitnessprofessionalsunion.com; http://www.makeitfair.ca/;
#RespectFitnessWorkers
SOURCE Workers United Canada Council