A worker who claims to have been paid cash under the table to clean 24 Sussex Drive did not appear at a press conference that a union arranged on Wednesday morning to draw attention to her claims.
“Unfortunately, the worker who was going to testify was pressured this morning by the president of the company not to attend today’s press conference,” said union organizer Anu Sharma. “These tactics further
reinforce the unfair labour practice that we have filed this morning.”
Cleanmatters president Gus Zygoumis denies ever calling Zahra Bulle. He also disputed some of her claims, saying his company cleans the guardhouse at 24 Sussex Dr, but never cleans the house itself.
He said he never pays his employees in cash.
“There is union activity in the cleaning industry now and they try all kinds of gimmicks,” he said.
Zygoumis also disputes the union’s claims that his company threatens employees with dismissal if they try to unionize. He said he has no problem with the union as long as they follow all of the procedures to sign up his
employees.
In an e-mail to Metro, SEIU Local 2 National Communications Coordinator Diego Mendez alleged that it was in fact Zygoumis who called Bulle.
“I’m not surprised with his response,” Mendez wrote.
Officials with Public Works and Government Services Canada are preparing a response to Metro’s request for comment.
