Media Advisory: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to Join Workers’ Rally to End Wage Discrimination at YVR Vancouver Airport

Nearly 2000 workers sign petition to YVR, call for a living wage for all YVR workers

 

Richmond, BC – This FRIDAY, NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will rally with YVR Vancouver International Airport workers in their fight to end wage discrimination at YVR, recently-rated the best airport in North America. A petition will be delivered to YVR, signed by nearly 2000 workers at the airport, which calls on the Vancouver Airport Authority to ensure a $25 living wage is paid to all YVR workers.

The Vancouver Airport Authority is a certified Living Wage Employer, yet over a thousand contracted food service, retail, and other workers at the airport are not covered by their living wage policy, with many earning minimum wage or just above. According to employment data obtained by the Union, YVR workers who are not covered by the living wage are 78% women, and most are immigrants. This is in stark contrast to YVR’s own staff, who earn a living wage and are majority male, and 65% white.

Yesterday, YVR Airport was named the top airport in North America by Skytrax. In a quote from Tamara Vrooman, YVR President and CEO, she states “Regaining our top spot as Best Airport in North America is a result of the dedication and hard work of our employees and everyone working here at YVR to serve travellers and our community.” At tomorrow’s rally, YVR’s low-paid workers, joined by labour and community allies, are standing up against YVR Airport’s wage discrimination for the respect and fair pay they deserve.

Last month, over 200 YVR Airport food service workers voted 85% in favour of strike action in their fight for a living wage. The impact of job actions at the world-class airport may cause disruptions as the busy travel season approaches.

 

WHAT: Rally to End Wage Discrimination at YVR

WHO: MP Jagmeet Singh with YVR Airport workers, joined by fellow hospitality workers and community allies

WHEN: FRIDAY, April 19

TIME: 2:00 PM

LOCATION: YVR International Arrivals (street level), 3211 Grant McConachie Wy, Richmond

VISUALS: MP Jagmeet Singh, airport workers and allies chanting, marching, and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns.

 

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

Press Release: Tenants Fight Larco for Safe Housing at Hearing

Second group of Larco tenants voice concerns over housing conditions

Vancouver, BC – West End tenants are facing off with major property developer and landlord, Larco Investments. At a BC Residential Tenancy Branch (RTB) hearing yesterday, tenants of Regency Park Residences at 1225 Cardero Street aired concerns over how landlord Larco has addressed heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) issues in the building since 2017.

In September 2017, the City of Vancouver confirmed that the Regency Park ventilation system was not functioning. They referred the matter to the city prosecutor to enforce an HVAC repair order in July 2018. The City later decided against pursuing legal action. Recently, the tenants requested the City take action to ensure Larco completes proper HVAC repairs. Twenty-seven written testimonies were provided by tenants of Regency Park stating multiple issues with air quality and ventilation in the building over the years. Some report serious health concerns that they say may be caused by indoor air pollution in their homes. A city inspector was sent to Regency Park on March 4, who found multiple HVAC building code violations.

Tenants are seeking repairs to the ventilation system and monetary compensation.

“The tenants and their children living at 1225 Cardero have been breathing in polluted air for the past seven years,” said Aissa Aggoune, resident of Regency Park for 17 years. “Enforcement is needed to ensure Larco makes the necessary building repairs, so the 200 plus families of Regency Park have safe and healthy homes, and can live in dignity.”

Health Link BC’s webpage on Environmental Illness states: “Poor ventilation that restricts fresh air flow inside can be a cause of sick building syndrome.”

This is now the second group of tenants raising issues with Larco. Tenants of Fontainebleau Apartments (5455 Balsam Street) held a rally against Larco rezoning their building in October 2023. The rezoning application is currently pending approval by the City of Vancouver. Those tenants complained that Larco had been cutting services, including heating.

Larco Investments is owned by the Lalji family, one of the wealthiest families in Canada, who holds a large portfolio of real estate including Park Royal mall, Maple Leaf Storage, and hotels, including the Sheraton Vancouver Airport.

The RTB has yet to rule on the allegations.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

Press Release – TODAY: Larco Hotel Boycott Spreads to Las Vegas

U.S. labour allies launch boycott, demand Larco pay Sheraton Vancouver Airport strikers a living wage after nine months on strike

 

Las Vegas, Nevada – TODAY the Culinary Union and UNITE HERE will rally in solidarity with striking Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers, now on strike for nine months in their fight for a living wage. Representing thousands of workers across many industries, these influential labour organizations are calling for a boycott of Rampart Casino at the JW Marriott Resort in Vegas. Rampart Casino is owned by the Lalji family, who also owns Larco Hospitality – operator of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel. The Hilton and Marriott Vancouver hotels beside the Sheraton are also operated by Larco Hospitality and behind the picket line, as the BC Labour Board has allowed Sheraton strikers to picket the entire hotel complex.

 

UNITE HERE represents 300,000 working people across Canada and the United States, including those in British Columbia represented by UNITE HERE Local 40. UNITE HERE members work in a range of industries – including the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries – and are predominantly women and people of color. The Culinary Union continues to raise standards for thousands of Nevada hospitality workers and their families through improved wages and benefits. The Culinary Union’s 60,000 members work as guest room attendants, cocktail and food servers, porters, bakers, bellmen, cooks, bartenders, and laundry and kitchen workers.  

 

“For decades the Culinary Union has fought and won higher standards in the Las Vegas hospitality industry, from the Strip to Downtown to the Locals Market. Our union has a long history of protecting and advancing these standards through organizing, bargaining, strikes, and boycotts,” said Ted Pappageorge, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “We are concerned that a Lalji family business is engaged in a labor dispute in Vancouver totally at odds with these standards and we fully support the strikers of UNITE HERE Local 40 in their fight for a living wage. We also need to know why a deceased Mr. Shirazalli Jafferali Lalji was listed as having a gaming license for almost four years after his death? And why is a deceased Mr. Lalji still, as of March 26, reported on the Nevada Gaming Control Board location details report as active within the Rampart Casino ownership structure?”

 

“The Sheraton Vancouver Airport is owned by the Lalji family – one of the 20 wealthiest families in Canada. Yet a majority of hotel staff are women and immigrants who are not paid fairly; some of my co-workers have worked at our hotel for over 30 years, but they still don’t earn Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68,” said Shaelyn Arnould, striking Starbucks food service worker at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport for five years. “Negotiations with the hotel broke off in December, and although we have told them we’re ready to continue talking to resolve this dispute, we still have no future bargaining dates set with them. They continue to disrespect their workers and the bargaining process, as we stand up for our rights and better jobs.”

 

The rally and a press conference will be held today in Las Vegas near the JW Marriott Resort.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

Media Advisory – TODAY: Striking Hotel Workers to Rally at Larco-Owned Bridge Studios in Burnaby

Strikers and allies call on Larco to pay their hospitality workers a living wage after nine months on strike

 

Burnaby, BC — TODAY, Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers, alongside community allies, will be rallying at Bridge Studios in Burnaby. Bridge Studios and the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel share the same parent company, Larco. The Bridge Studios franchise is an integral part of the Lower Mainland’s highly lucrative film industry and is a job creator in Burnaby with a growing footprint in the city. The company is currently constructing what is set to be Canada’s largest film and TV studio upon completion at Lake City Way. Unionized productions take place at the studio with members from IATSE, Teamsters, ICG, DGC, and ACTRA.

 

Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers, many who reside in Burnaby, walked off the job in June last year in their fight for pay increases that will bring them to Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68 per hour. Recently, on behalf of Burnaby City Council, Mayor of Burnaby Mike Hurley sent a letter to the owner of Bridge Studios and the Sheraton Vancouver Airport urging the company to reach a fair settlement with striking staff from the hotel.

 

Rally Details

When: TODAY, Thursday, March 21

Where: 2400 Boundary Road, Burnaby

Time: 1PM

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, sharan@unitehere40.com, 604-710-1693

Press Release: BREAKING – YVR Airport Food Service Workers Vote Overwhelmingly in Favour of Strike Action

Possible airport disruptions during spring break and easter weekend travel rush

Richmond, BC – Food service workers at YVR Vancouver International Airport voted 85% in favour of strike action yesterday. The workers – represented by UNITE HERE Local 40 – are employed by one of YVR’s largest food service operators, SSP Canada Food Services. After months of bargaining, over 200 low-paid SSP workers could walk off the job in their fight to earn Metro Vancouver’s living wage.

The workers serve travelers at dozens of food outlets located in the airport’s domestic and international terminals. Job actions would disrupt daily airport operations as the spring break and Easter weekend rush approaches, with over 1.1 million passengers projected to travel through YVR Airport in the next few weeks.

Recent Union data shows the average food service wage at the world-class airport to be only $18.27 – well below Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68. Meanwhile, YVR Airport generated $492 million in 2022 and is on track to exceed that figure in 2023. In a survey of YVR food service workers conducted last month by the Union, 89% are struggling to keep up with bills or housing costs. 92% of these workers have had to cut back on other expenses to get by each month including nearly 40% stating they are buying less fresh food, and 52% who are not able to support family members as they have previously.

Of the workers at YVR Airport who do not earn a living wage, 78% of those surveyed are women, and most are immigrants. A large majority of SSP food service workers are racialized women. SSP food service worker demographics are in stark contrast to YVR’s own staff, who earn a living wage and are majority male, 65% white.

In addition to standing united for a living wage, the workers are fighting to have their transit reimbursement program reinstated by SSP. This program covers Uber and taxi rides for all SSP food service staff who work outside of SkyTrain hours. Currently, the workers are expected to spend hundreds of dollars on ride costs each month in order to work their scheduled shifts at the airport.

With this strike vote, food service workers send a strong message: end wage discrimination at YVR. Picket lines could go up after workers issue 72-hour strike notice.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com