Recent allegations of poor treatment of temporary foreign workers by their employer are unfounded and hurting remaining staff and business say a group of A&W employees.

Four of the restaurant’s current employees defended owner Satnam Gill, who is being investigated by the Provincial government and the A&W chain following claims by three workers they were mistreated.

One of the staff asked her name be withheld, but three others spoke out against Gill’s accusers.

Jaclyn Slapinski, Kurtis Glasier and Josephine Gill (who is not related to the owners) said they all worked with the three temporary foreign workers and didn’t witness any mistreatment or verbal abuse.

“Everybody was treated the same,” said Slapinski.

She said Sara Ramnath, who claimed she was unfairly fired by Gill, praised her boss in the past.

“Sara told me how wonderful the Gills were,” Slapinski said.

They said all of the foreign temporary workers received special treatment from the Gills. When they arrived the Gills provided them with blankets, took them grocery shopping, to the doctor and paid for a dental plan for the workers.

They said they never saw the two workers from the Philippines repeatedly working long shifts. J.D. Cortes and Floyd De Vera, who worked for the Okotoks A&W for just more than a year, said they worked 12-hour shifts most of the time.

“We worked alongside the foreign workers and I didn’t see that,” said Glasier.

They said everyone was required to work long shifts occasionally, but said they were always paid overtime.

Temporary foreign workers continue to work at the local A&W, they added. A group of those employees did speak out in defence of Gill several weeks ago.

Slapinski, Glasier and Gill said the negative publicity has affected business at the fast food restaurant. They said some regulars who came every morning have stopped frequenting the restaurant.

“We’ve lost lots of valued customers,” said Glasier.

Some customers are also being critical and asking tough questions.

“People are coming in and questioning why we are still working here,” said Glasier.

It’s hard to defend yourself, they added.

“It doesn’t help that we’re Canadian,” said Slapinski. “They say those poor temporary foreign workers.”

Slapinski said she thinks Gill’s accusers were just on a sympathy grab.

“They just want people to sympathize,” she said.

Gill is facing obstruction of justice charges, but her trial, scheduled for May 11, was delayed. Judge Mark Tyndale said a two-hour delay and the need for two interpreters made it impossible to complete the trial in one day. He said there is a new direction from Assistant Chief Judge Bob Wilkins stating trials should be completed in one day and if they cannot they should be rescheduled rather than setting trial continuations months down the road.

Crown prosecutor Darren Mahoney said it was the first time he had heard of the new procedure.

A new trial date will be set later this week. Three of the Crown prosecutor’s witnesses are in Canada as temporary foreign workers. Their visas are set to expire at the end of the year. Mahoney said the government will keep them in the country as long as they are needed to testify, but said he hoped the case would be wrapped up by then.

The provincial government and A&W are also investigating Gill. A&W vice-president of operations Susan Senecal said interviews with current employees and a review of the business’ books did not turn up anything unusual.

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