Kemano Staff House Staff Ratify New Collective Agreement, UNITE HERE Local 40 Creates New Standard for Remote Camp Workers in BC

Kemano-Kitimat, BC — Camp workers from ESS Support Services at Kemano Staff House have ratified a new collective agreement with a 100% “yes” vote this week. UNITE HERE Local 40, BC’s camp workers’ union, continues to maintain the highest standards for remote camp workers across the province.

Culinary and housekeeping employees will now be earning the highest wages in BC for camp workers. In addition to the increase in wages, the new collective agreement recognizes the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation on September 30th as a paid statutory holiday for ESS employees. Local 40 commends ESS’s respect to Indigenous workers, as the day is intended to educate and remind Canadians about the history of residential schools and honour those who were impacted.

Robert Demand, Local 40 Executive Director and BC Building Trade Executive Board Member: “We want to acknowledge Compass ESS’ continued commitment to the local Kitimat community and for providing fair wages that take into account the rising cost of living in our members’ communities.”

Last month, close to 60 ATCO employees in Valemount on the Transmountain pipeline voted to join Local 40. The Union has organized more than 400 workers over the past two years, raising the living standards for remote camp workers across BC.

Local 40 continues to organize Civeo employees across the province. Late last year, Civeo was found by the Labour Relations Board to have violated the BC labour code by giving improper support to the BC Regional Council of Carpenters and unduly influenced workers against Local 40.

Media Contact: Stephanie Fung, 604-928-7356, [email protected]

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UNITE HERE Local 40 is the camp and hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the industrial camps, hotels, food service and airports throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.