Locked Out, Not Backing Down: Coast Victoria Workers Demand Living Wages

Victoria, BC – Ninety hospitality workers at the Coast Victoria Hotel and Blue Crab Seafood House remain locked out by their employer on day 4 of the company’s aggressive move to shut them out of their jobs. Instead of coming to the bargaining table to resolve issues of low wages, heavy workloads, and safe staffing levels, management has chosen to punish workers for demanding fairness.

“Being locked out is devastating. We want to work, but we cannot keep doing it at poverty wages that don’t cover the cost of living in Victoria,” said Melissa Irvine, a housekeeper at Coast Victoria. “This is our livelihood, and we will not back down until the hotel respects us.”

For the workers, the lockout means a sudden loss of income, uncertainty about paying rent, and the added stress of not knowing when they will be allowed to return to the jobs they have dedicated years to. Many workers are long-time employees who have built their lives in Victoria while cleaning rooms, cooking meals, and serving guests. Now, they are being told they cannot work simply because they dared to stand up for living wages.

“We will not be silenced by this lockout,” said Kelvin Ho, a room attendant at Coast Victoria. “We are standing together because we know what we deserve: fair wages, safe workloads, and respect.”

Victoria’s hospitality industry is booming, with tourists filling hotels at record rates, yet workers say they are being left behind. The lockout is not just about a contract dispute – it is about whether workers in this city can afford to live where they work.

Despite management’s tactics, Coast Victoria workers remain strong and united on the picket line. Spirits are high, and support is growing from the community, other unions, and local organizations.

Coast Victoria workers are calling on management to end the lockout immediately and return to meaningful negotiations that address the urgent issues facing hospitality workers in Victoria.

Media Contact: Rifat Islam – 604 619 0798 – [email protected]