BREAKING: YVR Airport Food Workers Secure $25/Hour Living Wage
Airport food staff sets new standard at Canada’s #1 airport
SSP Canada food workers at Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”) have voted 93% in favour of ratifying a groundbreaking collective agreement which achieves $25 living wages. This is the first contract for the workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, which joined the union last year.
The new collective agreement provides substantial wage increases immediately and ensures SSP workers will be brought up to $25/hour living wages by next year. Workers achieved significant health benefit improvements for themselves and their families and established new rights to take vacation time.
“I’ve worked for SSP at YVR Airport for 14 years and am so happy that we will now earn a $25/hour living wage and other new benefits. Our hard work sustains travelers and contributes millions of dollars to the airport community daily. Together, we stood up and demanded what we deserve to support ourselves and our families in this unaffordable city. We hope that inspires other YVR airport workers to stand up for more,” said Remedios Tamayo, a cook at Dirty Apron.
The new contract also provides a taxi/Uber reimbursement for those required to report to work outside of public transit hours, as well as a transit discount. Earlier this year, YVR ended its transit reimbursement program for airport operators and shifted the cost onto low-wage staff. Workers also secured gratuity protections and other gains.
In June, SSP food attendants, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, among others, launched a one-day strike action at YVR Airport to drive home the message that living wages are needed to live in Metro Vancouver. Although YVR is a certified living wage employer, foodservice staff, primarily immigrant women, are not covered by the policy. The workers garnered support from the broader airport community; thousands of airport workers and their supporters petitioned the Vancouver Airport Authority to broaden its living wage policy.
“We applaud SSP America for demonstrating leadership among airport operators. They are the first foodservice operator at YVR Airport to walk the talk about being a living wage employer. We hope other airport operators will follow their lead,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.
SSP operates thirteen outlets at YVR Airport, including: Whistler Brewhouse, LIFT Bar and Grill, Dirty Apron, Freshii, Thai Hang, Urban Crave, Church’s Chicken, Sal y Limón, Banh Shop, Nourish, Tru Burger, Rice Tales, and El Chiquito.
Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785