BY RICK PUSIAK
Workers at Marketeers Call Center got the answer they probably didnÂ?t want to hear after waiting two weeks for their pay cheques.
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The mayor told them. Marketeers has declared bankruptcy.
Mayor Jim Gordon addressed a group of frustrated displaced workers at the beginning of the council meeting Thursday night.
He said the general manager of economic development and planning services, Doug Nadorozny and other staffers, would meet with the workers Friday.
That seemed to initially settle the matter but things began to take on a bit of a bizarre air during the rest of the two-hour council meeting.
While regular council business proceeded and a controversial amendment to the municipal smoking bylaw was debated and dealt with, the former Marketeers could be seen swirling around the city hall lobby.
There were whispers at the media table that the workers, cut off from discussing their plight, were going to storm council chambers.
The onslaught never materialized, but the Marketeers did slowly take their seats again in the visitorsÂ? gallery, some holding protest signs.
That is against protocol in council chambers as signs or placards of demonstration are not permitted.
Toward the end of the meeting, the workers, who have had very little information about their jobs since a conference call Nov. 1 from owner Paul Phillips, stood up en masse, and a couple of the disgruntled call centre workers started shouting questions at the mayor.
Gordon appeared unfazed by the outburst and addressed the demonstrators.
Â?YouÂ?re out of order, are you going to listen to me or not,Â? said Gordon in a calm but firm voice.
The mayor repeated that the municipality would do everything with all the various programs and powers that it had to help out.
Â?ItÂ?s unfair that you donÂ?t have the money that you should have. The firmÂ?s gone bankrupt and you were taken advantage of. None of us in this room are happy about that,Â? Gordon said.
The mayor later told the media he was very, very disappointed that Sudbury ended up having Â?one of those companies that was at the low end of the totem poleÂ?.
The small size of the security force at city hall was also apparent. City Clerk Thom Mowry walked over to the protestors and advised them of council protocol and an unarmed security guard also told the call centre workers to keep things down.
Deputy police chief Jim Cunningham was seated in the staff section of council chambers and kept close watch on the goings on.
One of the people in the audience seen conversing with the Marketeers was local social activist Gary Kinsman. The workers are getting help from local social activists and members of the Mine Mill.
Members of Local 598 have provided office space and are helping them organize efforts to get information from their employer.
It is believed about 125 employees have been left in limbo. Employees are encouraged to phone Donna Beach at 673-3661 or to contact her by e-mail at marketeersminemill598.com
Â?with files from Vicki Gilhula
