Coast Victoria Workers: “We’ve just been locked out in a union town; does the NDP Government and Victoria City Council have our backs?”

Hotel management locked out workers early this morning following strike over living wages.

Victoria, BC — Locked out workers at Coast Victoria Hotel are calling on the NDP provincial government and Victoria City Council to back them up in their fight for living wages. After workers struck for living wages, hotel management has served workers with a lockout notice effective today.

“Victoria is where I grew up, but I am tired of being in survival mode. I can’t afford my rent and buy a car. It’s one or the other. I have had to work multiple jobs to put away money for school, otherwise I would be in a lot of debt.  My co-workers and I have had enough. Getting locked out because we’re fighting for a living wage is wrong.  Will the NDP government and Victoria City Council allow Coast Victoria to get away with this or will they fight for us? Are we a union town or not?” said Melissa Irvine, one of the locked-out housekeepers.

Citizens come to Victoria to have their voices heard, and many stay at Coast Victoria Hotel. The NDP and local governments collect around $40 every night guests stay in those hotel rooms.  Meanwhile, hotel housekeepers are paid $15 on average to clean the toilet and change the bed sheets for each room they are assigned.

The workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, walked off the job on August 20 in a limited strike action, urging management to address longstanding concerns about living wages and working conditions. Rather than reach an agreement that ensures sustainable family-supporting hotel jobs, the hotel responded by kicking workers to the curb. The lockout affects nearly ninety workers at the hotel and the Blue Crab Seafood House.

Media Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785