BREAKING: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Violates Labour Law Fifth Time

Richmond’s top convention hotel continues to disregard labour laws in third month of strike

 

Richmond, BC – Yesterday, the BC Labour Relations Board declared that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel violated the Labour Code by continuing to rebook rooms for guests from the Sheraton to neighbouring Marriot and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels during the current strike by members of UNITE HERE Local 40. The hotel has also been illegally moving events scheduled to take place at the Sheraton to the other two hotels. The Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels are non-union properties operated by the same company as the Sheraton, Larco Hospitality. This is the fifth time the company has acted in violation of labour laws since the strike began on June 14.

On July 17, The Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel received a cease and desist order from the Vice Chair of the Labour Board for wrongfully rebooking flight crews and distressed airline passengers from the Sheraton to its sister hotels. Now in the third month of the labour dispute, Larco Hospitality continues to move guests and events to its other properties, disregarding the law in its ongoing attempt the undermine the strike and retain hotel business.

“It is unacceptable that this employer continues to violate the law, while refusing to sit down with our members at the bargaining table and seriously address workers’ concerns in an effort to resolve this dispute. Our Union remains concerned about the ongoing illegal activities by Larco Hospitality in their attempts to undermine our strike action. We are now in our third month on strike for living wages at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel, with workers continuing to picket daily outside the Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton hotels in Richmond. Our members will not give up their fight until they win the contract they need to support their families in Metro Vancouver,” said Zailda Chan, UNITE HERE Local 40 President.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the three hotels. Striking Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers continue to picket outside of the Sheraton, Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels daily from 7am to 7pm in their fight for living wages from the employer.

 

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