Coast Victoria Hotel Workers Strike Again, Demand Living Wages and Proper Staffing Amid Tourism Boom

Victoria, BC — Frontline workers at the Coast Victoria Hotel have walked off the job for the second time this month, escalating their call for urgent action on living wages, safe workloads, and proper staffing levels.

The strike, led by members of UNITE HERE Local 40, comes at a time when Victoria’s tourism industry is breaking records. Despite booming business, workers say they’re being pushed to the brink, unable to afford to live in the city they serve and forced to shoulder unsafe workloads due to chronic understaffing.

“Victoria is booming for hotel owners, but for the people doing the work, the city is becoming impossible to live in,” said Melissa Irvine, a room attendant; “We’re not asking for the moon, just enough to live where we work and to do our jobs safely, with adequate staff.”

“Our workloads are unsafe, our wages are unsustainable, and our patience has run out,” said Mike Hull, a server at the Blue Crab Restaurant. “With tourism this strong, there’s no excuse for Coast Victoria not to invest in the staff who keep our hotel running.”

Workers say the front desk and restaurant are understaffed, forcing employees to juggle multiple roles with little support. Room attendants report being pressured to clean newly renovated rooms, which take longer to service, at unsafe speeds, risking injury and burnout.

Despite repeated attempts to address these concerns through bargaining, management at Coast Victoria has failed to meaningfully respond. Workers say they will not return to negotiations until there is a clear commitment from the hotel to resolve core issues.

Meanwhile, Victoria’s hotel industry is enjoying its most profitable season in years. Hotel occupancy reached nearly 92% in June, and revenue per available room (RevPAR) increased 17% in the first half of 2025 compared to the same period last year. This is the strongest performance of any major BC hotel market, based on data from Destination BC.

Picket lines are now up outside the Coast Victoria Hotel, and the strike is expected to disrupt hotel operations as well as service at the Blue Crab Seafood House.

Media Contact: Rifat Islam – 604.619.0798 – [email protected]