A desperate fight is unfolding for a group of security guards, recently cast aside by the City of Toronto, as they struggle to access the basic support they’re owed. These aren’t just any workers; they were the frontline in some of the city’s most vulnerable neighborhoods, tasked with maintaining safety and offering aid where it was desperately needed.
A legal team is preparing to file an injunction demanding One Community Solutions, the now-former contractor, immediately issue Records of Employment – the crucial documents needed to claim unemployment benefits. These ROEs are weeks overdue, effectively locking these workers out of the financial lifeline they deserve after faithfully serving the city.
The consequences are far-reaching. Without access to Employment Insurance, these individuals are cut off from vital benefits, including skills training and wage subsidies. For some, even the stability of subsidized housing hangs in the balance, dependent on proof of recent employment.
These security guards, known as Community Safety Teams (CSTs), were a visible presence at shelters, warming centres, and subway stations. Their duties were demanding and often dangerous – collecting hazardous needles, intervening in conflicts, and administering life-saving overdose reversal medication.
A class-action lawsuit already underway alleges systemic labour violations, including unpaid overtime and consistently delayed paycheques. This injunction represents a critical escalation, arguing that the withholding of ROEs is a final, deliberate act of exploitation.
The situation has forced one CST member, a Canadian citizen, to remain stranded outside the country. Unable to support himself in Toronto without access to EI, he’s caught in a heartbreaking limbo, his life on hold due to bureaucratic inaction.
Hasab Elbeili, a former government worker from Sudan who sought a better life in Toronto, paints a stark picture in a sworn affidavit. He described finding the work “meaningful,” even taking on supervisory responsibilities without commensurate pay. He believed he was contributing to his new community.
Pay stubs reveal a pattern of excessive hours worked without overtime compensation. Elbeili recounts struggling to afford rent and basic necessities, even resorting to riding public transit without a fare to get to work – a humiliating experience compounded by the fact he was actively serving the public.
He travelled to Qatar to visit family displaced by war, only to receive news of the contract termination while abroad. He returned to face an uncertain future, having received no notice, no termination pay, and no severance. He simply wants the chance to “breathe,” to regain a foothold and begin rebuilding his life.
The city severed ties with One Community Solutions on January 30th, after learning the company was employing unlicensed security personnel. The abrupt termination left dozens of CSTs jobless and scrambling for support.
Despite being a relatively new company, incorporated in 2020, One Community Solutions had secured a staggering $40 million in contracts with the City of Toronto, along with additional deals managing shelter services. The scale of the contracts raises questions about oversight and due diligence.
The city maintains its commitment to continuing the vital services provided by the CSTs, stating it is working to fill the gap left by the contract termination. However, for the displaced workers, the immediate priority remains securing the financial support they are rightfully owed.
This isn’t simply a legal dispute; it’s a story of vulnerable workers, exploited and abandoned, fighting for the dignity and security they deserve. It’s a stark reminder of the human cost behind contracts and city budgets, and the importance of ensuring those who serve the community are themselves protected.
