OTTAWA,
ON, May 24, 2024 /CNW/ - In what was supposed
to be an uplifting email message to workers over the Victoria Day
long weekend, Best Theratronics (BTL) owner Krishnan Suthanthiran
instead went on a tirade, casting his workers as entitled and lazy
for having too many statutory holidays, touting the benefits of a
seven-day workweek, and even threatening to move jobs of workers on
strike at the company overseas.
The email, sent May 18, was
delivered to the company's workers – excluding those currently
involved in an ongoing labour dispute. Suthanthiran complains "I
feel that every other weekend is a Long Weekend in Canada." The owner of the medical device
manufacturer goes on to state: "Canadian Manufacturing has not been
very successful" and references his employees strike action,
writing: "The recent challenges at BTL are unfortunate , but
predictable Canadian way of Life."
"Mr. Suthanthiran's contempt for working people is on full
display for all to see. He hurls insult after insult at his staff,
workers in general and the accepted working standards and gains
that generations of Canadians have fought to achieve, including
stat holidays and the five-day workweek," said Unifor National
President Lana Payne. "It's clear
this is yet another example of an ultra-wealthy, out of touch
millionaire who may very well be in the running for Canada's worst boss."
In the email, sent in the middle of the first long weekend of
the summer, Suthanthiran went on to express ignorance at the
actions of striking workers who have been on the picket line at the
Kanata, Ontario facility since
May 1, 2024. Workers went on strike
after rejecting a two-year offer with zero pay increases.
"I work every day , 7 days a week , my habit since Childhood .
Mind is a terrible thing to waste . I feel sad that some of our
Team Members have traded A Fully Air-conditioned. Work Space and 4
times regular healthy meals at Breakfast , Mid Morning / mid
Afternoon and lunch , for an unpredictable weather of heat , cold ,
rain and hanging out outside our building , with no bath room
facilities or free healthy meals , but have to pay out of their
pocket with a small handout for any meals they purchase," wrote
Suthanthiran.
"Suthanthiran should give his head a shake. Our members made the
decision to take strike action and sacrifice their paycheques in
order to defend their livelihoods and secure their future rather
than accept an unhinged offer of zero wage increases," said Unifor
Local 1541 President Steve LaBelle.
"Suthanthiran doesn't seem to understand that his self-proclaimed
success is owed entirely to the work our members do to build these
medical products."
Most egregiously, Suthanthiran threatened to transfer Best
Theratronics work to facilities in the U.S. and India operated by parent company TeamBest
Global Companies (TBG).
"For being the owner of a medical supply company, Suthanthiran
sure has some unhealthy views. Insulting, bullying, and demeaning
our members and now threatening workers' jobs has no place in this
day and age. We will not tolerate such repugnant behaviour and
Unifor will hold Mr. Suthanthiran accountable," added Payne.
View Krishnan Suthanthiran's 'holiday' email here.
Best Theratronics received a 1.2 million
dollar grant from the Ontario government in 2011 to add new jobs and
support employment at the Kanata
facility.
Unifor is Canada's largest
union in the private sector and represents 320,000 workers in every
major area of the economy. The union advocates for all working
people and their rights, fights for equality and social justice in
Canada and abroad, and strives to
create progressive change for a better future.
SOURCE Unifor