Press Release: Inn at Laurel Point Workers avert strike, increase their wages by 20% or more

Victoria, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Inn at Laurel Point have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement last night. Workers voted 98% in favour of the contract, securing significant wage gains to meet the rising cost of living in Victoria. Workers bargained a wage increase of 20% or more from June 2022 – February 2026.  By the end of the new contract, Cooks will earn 25% more in wages over the previous agreement, while Room Attendants will earn 26% more.

Under the new contract, the tipped workers achieved improvements to protecting their gratuities. These new protections give servers, bartenders, banquet staff, room attendants and bellstaff the right to review records to ensure management correctly pays automatic charges and credit/debit card tips and it prohibits management creating tip pools. Front Desk staff won unprecedented protections of their sales commissions.

“Getting the contract we want means that I am better able to support my family. The team here at Laurel Point – the housekeepers, front desk agents, banquet workers, restaurant servers, kitchen staff and other departments – are what keeps this place an amazing place to work and stay. I’m very proud that we all stuck together to attain a living wage, given Victoria’s high rate of inflation. I hope this inspires other unions and workers to demand what is fair and just for them as well,” said Aaron Walters, a server at Inn at Laurel Point’s Aura Restaurant

The contract win for Inn at Laurel Point workers averts a strike and ensures they will continue to provide four-star service to guests during the busy tourist season. Workers had issued 72-hour strike notice on April 27 after months at the bargaining table.

“The workers are happy and relieved to come to an agreement. We were fortunate to have a strong group of organizers and committee to achieve this fair result,” said Harj Aheer, front desk agent at the Inn.

 

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

Job Posting: Office Manager (Vancouver, BC)

UNITE HERE Local 40 is seeking a full-time Office Manager to manage its administrative and operational functions. 

UNITE HERE Local 40 is B.C.’s hospitality workers’ union and is leading the fight to organize the unorganized and at the forefront of campaigns for workers’ rights. Our members are housekeepers, bellmen, food servers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders and many other employees in the tourism and food service industries. Local 40 has a proud history of community involvement and a strong commitment to improving working conditions, wages, and benefits for all workers.

This is a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidate is reliable, quick to learn, well-organized, attentive to detail, and capable of juggling multiple responsibilities.

 

Job Responsibilities (include but not limited to the following):

  • Oversee and coordinate office administrative procedures.
  • Complete multiple responsibilities on a daily basis
  • Written and verbal communications with members, staff, and employers
  • Organize and schedule appointments/meetings
  • Assistance with coordinating special events and projects
  • Book travel arrangements
  • Submit and reconcile expense reports
  • Answering incoming telephone calls and retrieving daily messages
  • Maintain filing system
  • Assist in the preparation of operating budget and maintain inventory and budgetary controls
  • prepare periodic and special reports, manuals and correspondence
  • Order office supplies, obtain quotes, and coordinate with suppliers
  • Compile reports and prepare spreadsheets
  • Provide payroll information by collecting time and attendance records.
  • Assist with financials and streamline processes efficiently in a busy and fast-paced environment
  • Welcome newly hired employees to the organization by conducting orientations
  • Assist in overseeing daily office operations
  • Other duties as assigned by union leadership

 

Job Requirements/Qualifications: The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.

  • 2 ­to 3 years experience in related field
  • Passionate belief in the importance of trade unions and desire to contribute to the labour movement’s effort to create a more just and equitable society
  • Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to engage effectively and tactfully with members, staff, and employers
  • Effective written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail
  • Knowledge of office management systems, policies, and procedures
  • Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g. Work and Excel); G Suite applications including Google Docs, Google Sheets and other applications; Mac & PC
  • Demonstrated excellent organizational skills and high capacity for attention to detail
  • Strong ability and comfort level with variety of technologies, including office equipment, telephones, smart phones, laptops, fax machines, and copiers.
  • Proficient data entry skills
  • Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work
  • Ability to work independently within the context of a plan
  • Good interpersonal and communication skills; must work well with others
  • Must be able to maneuver effectively through Excel using formulas, properly and accurately manage staff expense reimbursements, and have basic knowledge of employee provincial/federal laws
  • Bookkeeping/accounting experience is preferable but not required.
  • Familiarity with QuickBooks a plus.

Salary range from $60,000 to $70,000/year depending on experience.

This is not a remote or hybrid position.

 

Please submit a resume and references, along with a cover letter, to Michelle Travis at mtravis@unitehere.org with “Office Manager Application” in the subject line.  Please include your available start date in the cover letter. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.

BREAKING: Ramada Prince George workers vote in favour of strike

Workers at Ramada Prince George voted 87% in favour of strike action last night. Now without a contract for over 10 months, Ramada Prince George workers are considering taking job action, up to and including a strike, to secure wages that allow them to keep up with the rising cost of living. The 35 workers, including housekeepers, banquet staff, front desk agents, and the hotel’s Starbucks food service workers, are represented by UNITE HERE Local 40.

Wages at the hotel range between $17-18 per hour, significantly less than the living wage required to support a family in Prince George at $21.19.

“This is about securing a standard that will allow us to live comfortably so that we are not struggling as individuals. This is about separating the gap between what we’re making and what’s a realistic living wage,” said Monisa Boudreau, a housekeeper at Ramada Prince George.

Many Ramada Prince George workers were hired during the COVID-19 pandemic, putting themselves on the frontlines to serve guests. Currently the hotel is not offering any food or beverage service and is understaffed, with heavy workloads placed on its workers. Despite sacrifices made during the pandemic and consistently maintaining high standards for guests, Ramada workers’ jobs are not sustainable at their current wages.

“I’ve worked at the Ramada for over a decade and I’m still struggling to pay my bills. Me and my co-workers deserve a living wage,” said Vanessa Farley, a housekeeper at Ramada Prince George for 11 years.

“I always put 100% into my work, and right now I feel as though I’m not being fairly compensated for it at the Ramada. We’ve tried compromising with the owners but at this point the amount that we’re asking for is the amount that we need to survive,” said Maria Drabinasty, a cleaner at Ramada Prince George for 13 years.

Picket lines could go up any time after workers issue 72-hour strike notice.

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

BREAKING: Workers at Powell River Town Centre Hotel vote in favour of strike action

Workers at Powell River Town Centre Hotel have voted 76% in favour of strike action. Town Centre Hotel workers are struggling to keep up with the cost of living and demanding fair wages from their employer. The 35 workers have been in contract bargaining for over a year with no resolution in sight. The workers, room attendants, kitchen staff, servers, and front desk agents, are represented by UNITE HERE Local 40.

Powell River’s cost of living has skyrocketed in recent years. The current living wage is $23.33, but Town Centre Hotel workers earn far less. With hotel wages starting at $17 per hour, the hotel is facing challenges retaining staff. Town Centre hotel workers are struggling to support their families, pay rent, and save for their future.  Despite brisk business at the hotel, management is refusing to pay workers a living wage.

“Gas and groceries here in Powell River are increasing constantly. We pay extra here than anywhere else simply because of where we live. Everything we have in our stores comes in on freight or through the ferries. Because of this and inflation, most of us can barely get by. I enjoy where I work and I love my bosses and coworkers. I think I speak for everyone when I say we really need living wages where we work”, said Tyler Stieben, cook at Powell River Town Centre Hotel.

Picket lines could go up any time after workers issue 72-hour strike notice.

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

Press Release – BREAKING: Inn at Laurel Point Workers Issue 72-hour Strike Notice

Over 100 workers prepare to strike one of Victoria’s premier hotels

Victoria – Inn at Laurel Point workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, issued 72-hour strike notice to management late yesterday. Workers will be in a legal strike position as of 3pm Sunday afternoon. This comes after workers voted 97% in favour of strike on Monday. Picket lines could go up at the high-end harbourfront hotel next week as the busy travel season restarts.

Workers are seeking a living wage to make hotel jobs sustainable and to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of rent and groceries in Victoria. Business at Inn at Laurel Point is bustling, yet staff are falling behind in wages. Workers are juggling heavy workloads in order to provide the 4-star service that the guests expect.

“I want to feel valued and be paid what I’m worth. I’ve committed 21 years to this hotel because I enjoy working with guests, but I don’t feel respected by management. We’ve tried working with management for nearly two years, but they don’t seem to care.  They’re spending money on renovations and branding but not investing in our staff who deliver top notch service,” said Harj Aheer, front desk agent at the Inn.

Although the Inn at Laurel Point promotes itself as a social enterprise focused on the well-being of people and the surrounding community, workers have spent nearly two years at the bargaining table and attempts at mediation. Management refuses to adequately address workers’ need for cost-of-living increases. The Inn undertook a $10 million renovation recently and has plans for future renovations and expansion. Pay for most hotel staff falls short of Victoria’s living wage of $24.29.

“I’m currently working 3 jobs to support my children and pay rent. I didn’t have to work multiple jobs 10 years ago, but today, I’m living paycheque to paycheque. A living wage would make it easier for my family to save for our future. I need this job to be sustainable for me, and my children,” said Aaron Walters, a server at Inn at Laurel Point’s Aura Restaurant

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

###

UNITE HERE Local 40 is BC’s hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.