Former employees rallying outside Dutchie’s store allege they’re owed wages
With new allegations emerging about a Kitchener, Ont. grocery store, some former employees made their complaints known – in person.
Over a dozen people gathered outside Dutchie's Fresh Food Market on Saturday with signs demanding wages they claim are still owed.
"I'd like to see a united front and get a claim against the company, before [the owner] goes bankrupt, so we actually get some of the money back for the hours we worked," former employee Stephen Rominger told CTV News. "I know he's going to go bankrupt. He has to go bankrupt for the amount he owes."
Four former employees publicly came forward this week alleging Dutchie's owed them various amounts, from $4,000 to $7,000.
"He owes me over $6,000," former employee Abhay Shima said at Saturday’s demonstration. "I've talked to him a couple of times. He says: 'I'll give you a buck.' But when? He's not giving a time or date. He just keeps on making excuses and delaying the payment."
More than 10 businesses and vendors told CTV News on Friday that they’re still owed for their services.
"It's ridiculous how he's treating people," stated Rominger. "He's abusing and misusing people, especially people new to Canada. We're supposed to be helping these people and he's hurting these people."
After CTV News aired its first story on March 14, dozens of people reached out to share their own experiences with Dutchie’s. Most didn’t want to be named in interviews but all claimed they weren’t paid by Dutchie’s after either working there, providing services or product to the grocer.
Dutchie’s management sent the following statement to CTV News on Friday: “We have been given limited information about the allegations. However, we are dealing with all allegations promptly and appropriately and will continue to do so. We have no further comment about this at this time.”
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
More than 115 cases of eye damage reported in Ontario after solar eclipse
More than 115 people who viewed the solar eclipse in Ontario earlier this month experienced eye damage after the event, according to eye doctors in the province.
Toxic testing standoff: Family leaves house over air quality
A Sherwood Park family says their new house is uninhabitable. The McNaughton's say they were forced to leave the house after living there for only a week because contaminants inside made it difficult to breathe.
Decoy bear used to catch man who illegally killed a grizzly, B.C. conservation officers say
A man has been handed a lengthy hunting ban and fined thousands of dollars for illegally killing a grizzly bear, B.C. conservation officers say.
B.C. seeks ban on public drug use, dialing back decriminalization
The B.C. NDP has asked the federal government to recriminalize public drug use, marking a major shift in the province's approach to addressing the deadly overdose crisis.
OPP responds to apparent video of officer supporting anti-Trudeau government protestors
The Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) says it's investigating an interaction between a uniformed officer and anti-Trudeau government protestors after a video circulated on social media.
An emergency slide falls off a Delta Air Lines plane, forcing pilots to return to JFK in New York
An emergency slide fell off a Delta Air Lines jetliner shortly after takeoff Friday from New York, and pilots who felt a vibration in the plane circled back to land safely at JFK Airport.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau on navigating post-political life, co-parenting and freedom
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau says there is 'still so much love' between her and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, as they navigate their post-separation relationship co-parenting their three children.
Last letters of pioneering climber who died on Everest reveal dark side of mountaineering
George Mallory is renowned for being one of the first British mountaineers to attempt to scale the dizzying heights of Mount Everest during the 1920s. Nearly a century later, newly digitized letters shed light on Mallory’s hopes and fears about ascending Everest.
Loud boom in Hamilton caused by propane tank, police say
A loud explosion was heard across Hamilton on Friday after a propane tank was accidentally destroyed and detonated at a local scrap metal yard, police say.