Hotel workers move fasting strike to tourism minister’s Maple Ridge office
Posted August 27, 2020 1:41 pm.
Last Updated August 27, 2020 1:43 pm.
VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — Laid-off hotel workers and supporters demonstrated outside the minister of tourism’s office in Maple Ridge Thursday as they call on the province to protect 50,000 hotel jobs during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hotel workers started a fasting strike or “open-ended hunger strike” earlier this month, demonstrating outside the B.C. Legislature in Victoria. They say they want to see the government give laid-off workers a legal right to return to their jobs as the industry recovers.
TODAY on Day 18 of #Fast4OurJobs – Hunger strikers are setting up encampment outside #MapleRidge office of Tourism Minister Lisa Beare; Demonstration today at 12PM https://t.co/xG2CqHMNUb #bcpoli #cdnpoli #bclab #canlab
— Unite Here Local 40 (@UniteHere40) August 27, 2020
Stephanie Fung with UNITE HERE Local 40 speaks for the group and says little has changed since they last spoke with the province.
“A couple of weeks ago, we did meet with [B.C.’s] Tourism Minister, Lisa Beare, and the Labour Minister, Harry Bains. So far, there haven’t been any developments. We’ve discussed things with them, but there hasn’t been a clear answer on whether workers will get a legal right to return to their jobs.”
You may see a group demonstrating outside @lisabeare‘s office in #mapleridgebc this afternoon. Hotel workers and others are calling on the province to protect 50K hotel jobs amid the #COVID19 pandemic.
— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) August 27, 2020
At the end of August, Fung says 50,000 hotel staff will see their temporary layoffs run out and they could face severance, along with loss of seniority.
Some of the demonstrators have been holding what Fung calls an “open-ended hunger” strike to protest the inaction, and are on their 18th day.
“Workers are fasting indefinitely until the government gives them a legal right to return to their jobs, and it’s open-ended, so, you know, when they’re advised by medical professionals to stop because of their health concerns, then other workers will come in and replace them.”
Stephanie Fung speaks for the group and says while they met w/Beare & Labour Min. @HarryBainsSN a few weeks ago, “so far, there hasn’t been any developments. There hasn’t been a clear answer on whether workers will get a legal right to return to their jobs.”
— Ria Renouf (@riarenouf) August 27, 2020
Fung says what’s being done to long-time workers by the hotel industry isn’t fair.
“Their goal is to actually replace long-term workers and replace them with workers who will accept lower wages, so we’re seeing hotels firing workers who have been working at their hotels for 20 to 30 years, and that’s not right.”
Vancouver Coun. Jean Swanson joined the hotel workers earlier in the month, fasting for a day to show her support.
-With files from Monika Gul, Liza Yuzda and Hana Mae Nassar
