Several hotels facing picket lines, strike action
Workers at the Hotel Grand Pacific in Victoria have moved a step closer to a strike following a vote.
Workers at the hotel voted 92% in favour of the labour move after negotiations stalled in May and the employer failed to return to the bargaining table, claimed Unifor.
"These workers deserve to be paid a fair wage that reflects the cost of living in the community where they work," said Unifor National President Lana Payne. "The disrespect shown from the employer by refusing to negotiate fairly will result in strike action unless they return to the table with a serious offer."
The roughly 160 members of Unifor Local 114 work in a variety of departments, including housekeeping, front desk, maintenance, reservations, Fathom restaurant, the Courtyard Café and the banquets department.
Recently, more than 2,600 Quebec hotel workers went on strike to seek better deals from their employers.
Growing number of hotel workers on strike
Should these Unifor members’ strike action push through, they will join workers at other hotels in the province who have already walked off the job this year.
Workers at the Residence Inn Downtown Vancouver – Marriott are in their second week on strike after providing strike notice in late July, reported BIV.
Workers at the Hyatt Regency, Pinnacle Harbourfront and Westin Bayshore who are without contracts are also considering job action, according to the report. That would follow a one-day strike outside the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.
Also, workers at the Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel & Marina in Richmond have been on strike for more than three years. They walked off the job on May 3, 2021 after the union said the employer terminated 143 long-term staff, noted BIV.
Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel and, in particular, majority owner Sukhminder Rai breached the labour code by intimidating and threatening strikers on the picket line, according to a previous decision by the BC Labour Relations Board.
There had also been a picket outside the Residence Inn Downtown Vancouver – Marriott on Aug. 4.
The roughly 160 members of Unifor Local 114 work in a variety of departments, including housekeeping, front desk, maintenance, reservations, Fathom restaurant, the Courtyard Café and the banquets department at Hotel Grand Pacific.
"Unifor has worked to raise the bar for hotel workers across B.C. and we fully expect the Grand Pacific to meet that standard. For too long workers in the hospitality sector have been undervalued but the reality is our members are essential to the success of these hotel operations," said Unifor Western Region Director Gavin McGarrigle.
There have also been strike issues at the Liquor Control Board of Ontario (LCBO), Canada Border Services Agency (CBSA) and the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) in the past few months.