In mid-March, a small group of former Dutchie’s Fresh Food Market workers went public with allegations of unpaid work in an exclusive interview with CTV News, setting off a deluge of similar allegations against the Kitchener, Ont. grocer.
The evolving story has also raised questions about the government’s ability to enforce employment laws.
Here’s a timeline of CTV News’ reporting:
March 14: Four former employees come forward claiming Dutchie’s Fresh Mart owes them unpaid wages. All are recent immigrants from Ukraine.
Collectively they allege they’re owed around $16,000.
“It’s not normal. I have family. And I need my salary, my money,” says former employee Natalia Savka.
Dutchie’s company director Michael Renkema says they take the allegations seriously and are committed to addressing them promptly and appropriately.
March 15: More than 10 businesses and vendors tell CTV News they are still owed for goods and services they provided to Dutchie’s, and at least one says they’ve been waiting more than three years to be paid.
March 16: More than a dozen people protest outside Dutchie’s Kitchener location, demanding wages they claim they are still owed.
March 18: CTV News speaks with two more former Dutchie’s employees who say they made complaints to the Ministry of Labour about unpaid wages. While both of their cases were settled, only one was ever paid what he was allegedly owed.
In a subsequent interview, a lawyer explains why the Ministry of Labour can’t force employers to pay worker wages – even though they’re the ones tasked with responding to complaints.
The cumulative total owing is $657,000.
There are also 16 civil actions against the company in Ontario.
The owner of a refrigeration company who won a court ordered judgement against Dutchie’s for $350,000 says he was never paid in full, and isn’t surprised by the stories he’s heard.
“I feel like the lack of enforcement has empowered Mike [Renkema] to continue doing this,” says David McLaughlin of Vamco Inc. “And because of that, when is it going to stop?”
In a statement, Dutchie’s says: “We are focused on continuing to service our valued customers. We are committed to addressing any issues internally. We have no further comment at this time.”
April 1: Dutchie’s Gateway Park Drive location briefly appears on the market. An online real estate listing describes it as a “fully-equipped Supermarket for sale.”
August 19: The doors are locked at Dutchie’s Fresh Food Market on Gateway Park Drive.
October 8/9: Lawmakers proposing amendments to Bill 190, to provide greater protections for employees, cite Dutchie’s as an example of a bad actor.
October 29: Ontario’s fifth Working for Workers Act receives Royal Assent. While the province claims the latest changes will support frontline workers and crack down on bad actor employers, some law makers and employment lawyers express disappointment.
West’s interest in wage theft was sparked after hearing Waterloo-based employment lawyer Joanna Mullen speak to lawmakers about Dutchies Fresh Market.
“The entire purpose of going down and speaking to the standing committee was to let them know what has been going on in Waterloo Region, particularly with this employer, Dutchies Fresh Market,” Mullen said about speaking at the Oct. 8th meeting.
Mullen provided MPP’s with a list of recommendations that could help protect workers. The recommendations included businesses posting a $25,000 security that goes towards paying victims of wage theft.
She also recommends publicly posting employers who are found guilty of wage theft, similar to how municipalities list health code violations for restaurants.
“Certainly there is some disappointment in the fact that our recommendations were not incorporated,” Mullen said.
December 10: Ontario’s Ministry of Labour confirmed the business director of Dutchie’s Fresh Market, Michael Renkema, pleaded guilty to 13 offences relating to sections of the Employment Standards Act.
March 4: Court heard that both Dutchie’s Fresh Market and Renkema are in the process of paying owed wages to 13 employees. Renkema’s sentencing was also delayed until May 30.
