Hotel worker strike continues at Vancouver hotels
Posted October 9, 2019 1:28 pm.
Last Updated October 9, 2019 3:39 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – The BC Federation of Labour is calling for a boycott of four luxury Vancouver hotels.
The labour organization is asking its 500,000 members across the province to join the boycott in support of striking workers employed at the Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore, Pinnacle Hotel Harbourfront and Rosewood Hotel Georgia.
RELATED: Hundreds of Hotel Georgia workers strike following breakdown in negotiations
The hotel workers striking include front desk agents, room attendants, chefs and other many others.
Union members and the general public have been asked not to cross picket lines or do business with the four hotels, either in person or online, and some high-profile bookings are being cancelled.
“This is a broader public issue that affects a lot of people,” says BC Federation of Labout President Laird Cronk. “That’s why we’re appealing to the public to help us apply pressure to get these issues resolved.”
He welcomes the decision to move next month’s Websters ceremony to the Hotel Vancouver from the Hyatt Regency.
“And that’s promising because this is all about applying pressure to these high-end hotels to make sure that their workers are treated respectfully.”
Tourism plays an important role in #Vancouver, but it shouldn’t be on the backs of precarious and low-wage workers. #Solidarity with striking @UniteHere40 workers. They deserve a fair contract. One job should be enough.@bcfed @Laird4bcfed @SussanneRS #vanpoli #bclab #canlab pic.twitter.com/1T8WjIfgAC
— Christine Boyle (@christineeboyle) October 9, 2019
About 1,200 members of Unite Here Local 40 have been on strike for almost three weeks, seeking improved wages, job security and safety provisions but the Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association says its offer of improved wages and working conditions was recently rejected.
Cronk says there’s hope contract talks with the Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association will start up again soon.
“This is to help apply pressure to get them to the table. It’s frustrating that workers’ issues, like health and safety, like a liveable wage, have not been addressed.”
