Picket Lines Up at Marriott Vancouver Airport and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels

Union granted extended picket line in second month of strike

Richmond, BC – The BC Labour Board has declared that Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, have the right to picket outside of its non-union sister hotels next door – the Hilton Vancouver Airport and Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotels, operated by the same company, Larco Hospitality. On Wednesday, the Labour Board deemed the three hotels a common site and is permitting striking workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels.

Picketing now takes place 7am to 7pm on Westminster Highway from the western edge of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel to Minoru Boulevard; Minoru Boulevard from Westminster Highway to Elmbridge Way; and Elmbridge Way from Minoru Boulevard to the western edge of the Sheraton.

The Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott Vancouver airport hotels in Richmond form British Columbia’s largest hotel complex, regularly accommodating large flight crews landing at YVR Vancouver Airport as well as airline passengers who have experienced flight delays. The extended picket line will affect guests staying at the Hilton and Marriott hotels, including airline staff and passengers.

Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers walked off the job on June 14 in their fight for living wages that would allow them to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in Metro Vancouver. On July 17, the Labour Board declared that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport violated the Labour Code by rebooking rooms for Porter, UPS, and Xiamen flight crews from the Sheraton to neighbouring Marriot and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels. Sheraton Vancouver Airport was also found to have wrongfully rebooked rooms for Air Canada and West Jet’s passengers from the Sheraton to the other two hotels, attempting to retain hotel business and undermine the strike action.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott Vancouver Airport hotels. The BCFED boycott in Richmond extends to an unrelated hotel, Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, where workers are also on strike. The public is advised to find alternate accommodations at River Rock Casino Resort or the Radisson on Cambie.

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