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Workers in Canora have organized what might be the first union local to hit a Saskatchewan Tim Hortons, but their employer is still fighting back.

The Workers United Canada Council local was certified after a battle before the Labour Relations Board. Seven workers are now members.

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They’ve been trying to organize since May or June of last year, said Workers United Canada Council vice-president Vas Gunaratna.

“The employer has chosen to fight us every step of the way,” Gunaratna told the Leader-Post.

The Canora Tim Hortons is owned by Amenity Health Care LP, which also owns a number of other businesses in Saskatchewan and Manitoba. The company challenged the certification by arguing that two of the workers are actually supervisors.

The board disagreed, after hearing testimony the pair had little authority and were mainly tasked with the same food service work as other employees.

Gunaratna said the workers held a party when they signed their union cards. But the celebration didn’t last long, he added, since they’re still awaiting negotiations for a collective agreement. Gunaratna accused the company of stonewalling the union.