Taylor Mergui Advances Class Action as New Allegations Detail Systemic Unpaid Wages and Unsafe Conditions
St. Felix Centre, a 24-hour respite facility at Liberty and Fraser streets in Liberty Village.
Credit: Steve Russell of Toronto Star
Taylor Mergui Law Group continues to advance its proposed $22 million class action against One Community Solutions (OCS) and the City of Toronto, with new allegations further underscoring the scale and seriousness of the misconduct faced by frontline security workers.
Partner Ryan O’Connor, alongside Senior Associate Gurpreet Farmaha, is leading the litigation on behalf of current and former guards who allege chronic late pay, unpaid overtime, unlawful wage deductions, and unsafe working conditions across shelters, encampments, hospitals, and supervised consumption sites throughout the city.
Recent court filings describe what O’Connor calls one of the most systemic employment standards failures he has encountered in practice. Workers report regularly exceeding 70 to 100 hours per week without receiving mandatory overtime premiums. Some allege they were paid weeks late or not at all. Others claim they were disciplined or terminated after questioning missing wages.
The representative plaintiff, Ibrahim Idriss, alleges he was dismissed in 2024 after inquiring about unpaid overtime. Many other workers, the claim states, remain fearful of coming forward due to the risk of reprisal.
Beyond wage violations, the lawsuit details hazardous assignments involving violence, overdoses, and biohazard exposure without adequate protective equipment or meaningful safety training. The claim asserts that economically vulnerable and newcomer workers were placed in volatile environments while being denied the basic protections guaranteed under Ontario law.
The action further alleges that the City continued awarding and expanding multimillion-dollar contracts to OCS despite longstanding complaints dating back to 2020. According to O’Connor, the City had access to detailed staffing and billing information, including hours worked and overtime charges, yet failed to ensure that public funds earmarked for labour were properly paid to workers.
“Public money intended for wages should reach the people doing the work,” O’Connor said. “Instead, these guards allege they were left unpaid while their employer continued to receive millions in City funding.”
The proposed class action seeks compensation for unpaid wages, overtime and holiday pay, wrongful dismissal, and breaches of the Employment Standards Act, Occupational Health and Safety Act, and Human Rights Code. The allegations have not yet been tested in court.
Taylor Mergui Law Group remains committed to advocating for affected workers and holding both the contractor and the City accountable.
Employees who believe they may be impacted are encouraged to contact Ryan O’Connor at ryano@tmpi.ca or Gurpreet Farmaha at gurpreet@tmpi.ca.