Eyob speaks out……I came to Windsor Canada in 2009 from Africa. I was very excited as I dropped off my resume and applied for my first job in this country. The owner seemed very happy to see me and I was soon hired. I was very happy to get this job as there are not many available in Windsor. I was told that I had to work 3 weeks before I would get paid. The first time I got a paycheque it was short on hours. The second time I got paid the cheque bounced. I kept going to work because I was promised my pay. After 6 weeks, I had only been partially paid for 2. I decided that I could no longer go to work without getting paid.
I tried hard to get paid but the boss made so many false promises; I finally gave up and contacted the Windsor Workers’ Action Centre. We held a press conference in front of the factory to put pressure on the government to take action. We asked them to investigate this company and stop them from hiring people and not pay them. I finally filed a claim with the Ministry of Labour. I was recently told my file had gone to a collection agency. I am not in this only for myself. I am fighting for the others who were never paid, those who are working there now, the unpaid workers. And I am in this for what Canada should stand for.
