Press Release: Another Giveaway at City Hall: ABC Ignores Residents and Health Expert, Votes to Expand Slots by 50%

Vancouver, BC – In a narrow 5-4 vote last night, Vancouver’s ruling ABC party approved a 50% expansion of slot machines at Parq Casino, allowing 300 additional machines despite strong opposition from residents and objections raised by a top Vancouver medical health official.

Over 75 hospitality workers from UNITE HERE Local 40, along with community advocates and other residents, rallied at City Hall ahead of the public hearing, holding signs reading “Take Back Vancouver.” They urged Council to “stop the giveaways” to real estate investors backing the casino and to developers profiting at the expense of Vancouver’s working people.

ABC councillors Lenny Zhou, Lisa Dominato, Peter Meiszner, Mike Klassen and Brian Montague voted in favour of the expansion. The decision came despite public concern over negligible improvements to community benefits as well as gambling-related harms that failed to consider a forthcoming report from Statistics Canada on the Problem Gambling Severity Index.

Dr. Mark Lysyshyn, Vancouver’s Deputy Chief Medical Health Officer, strongly urged Council to reject the proposal over concerns of public health related harms.  Councillor Pete Fry moved a motion to refer the proposal back to staff to review updated problem gambling data and further assess gambling-related health impacts. ABC councillors rejected it.

Speakers warned that the social and health impacts associated with expanded gambling would far outweigh the casino’s marginal improvements to community benefits. Opponents also noted Parq’s declining financial performance, growing competition from online gambling, the casino’s outstanding unpaid contribution of $400,000 to the City’s social responsibility fund, and lack of meaningful public consultation.

“This is a slap in the face to residents who spoke out,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Council had an opportunity to pose serious questions to Parq about this proposal. Instead, ABC defied city residents and disregarded public health experts to side with a casino backed by wealthy real estate investors.”

Opponents also highlighted public safety impacts. Between 2020 and 2024, there were 1,439 police and fire calls to Parq – levels comparable to, or exceeding, some SROs on Granville Street that house Vancouver’s most vulnerable residents. Mayor Ken Sim and the Hospitality Vancouver Association have cited emergency call data in calling for the closure of several Granville Street SROs, raising questions about consistency in how that data is applied.

Concerns were further raised about where the 300 slot machines would be sourced. Because the BC Lottery Corporation partners with U.S.-based slot manufacturer IGT, a speaker questioned why Council would advance a proposal that could benefit an American gaming supplier with ties to the Trump Administration at a time when B.C. and Canada face punishing U.S. tariffs.

More than 3,000 letters were sent to Councillors opposing the expansion.

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

Press Release: New Report Card Ranks YVR Airport Concession Operators Ahead of 2026 FIFA World Cup

List Highlights Responsible and Irresponsible Employers

Vancouver, BC —With Vancouver preparing to host thousands of visitors during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, a new report released today draws a clear line between airport concession operators at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) that uphold fair labour standards and living wages and those whose practices raise concerns.

The report – Who are Sustainable Airport Concessions Operators at Vancouver International Airport – evaluates food, beverage, retail, and lounge operators based on publicly available information, worker testimony and formal filings. It aims to ensure that YVR’s sustainability commitments are reflected not just in branding, but in the day-to-day realities faced by the workers who keep the airport running.

“With the world’s eyes on Vancouver in 2026, it is critical that airport services are delivered by operators who respect workers and deliver high quality labour standards,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “This report provides a clear picture of which companies are helping build a sustainable airport economy and which are putting the airport’s reputation at risk.”

Responsible Operators Recognized

The report highlights responsible operators that have taken proactive and cooperative approaches to labour relations. These companies, HMSHost and SSP, pay at or near living wages, respect workers’ rights to unionize, and provide more stable schedules, benefits, and job security at YVR.

“These employers demonstrate that respecting workers is compatible with delivering quality service in a high-pressure airport environment,” said Chan. “They set the standard YVR should expect from all concessionaires.”

Irresponsible Operators Raise Red Flags

The report also identifies irresponsible operators, defined as companies that are not living-wage employers, and/or have been alleged to discourage workers from exercising their legal rights.

Paradies Lagardere, a major multinational airport concessionaire operating multiple outlets at YVR, is cited as a prominent example. According to a formal unfair labour practice complaint filed by UNITE HERE Local 40 with the BC Labour Relations Board, Paradies Lagardere has been accused of intimidating workers, interfering with union organizing, and retaliating against employees for engaging in protected union activity. These allegations remain before the Board.

The report notes that labour instability created by low wages and poor labour practices can increase the risk of disruptions during high-profile events such as the FIFA World Cup.

A Call for Responsible Contracting

The report urges Vancouver Airport Authority to prioritize responsible operators in future concession contracts and take proactive steps to ensure labour stability.

“Labour disruptions are preventable,” said Chan. “Choosing responsible concession operators is one of the most effective ways YVR can align its sustainability branding with on-the-ground reality and ensure a smooth experience for fans arriving from around the world.”

The full report card and complete list of responsible and irresponsible operators are available here.

 

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

News: Second Labour Board Ruling Finds Executive Hotel Group Broke the Law to Block Unionizing

Board orders Remedial Certification of Union at EXchange Hotel

Vancouver, BC — For the second time in less than a year, the British Columbia Labour Relations Board has ruled that an affiliate of Executive Group broke the law to prevent workers from freely choosing union representation.

In a decision released January 2, 2026, the Board ordered the automatic certification of UNITE HERE Local 40 at the EXchange Hotel Vancouver after finding that management illegally interfered with the organizing drive through pressure, intimidation, and inducements.

The Board found that the employer:

  • Pressured employees to rescind signed union cards;
  • Directed management to “stop the union” during the certification vote;
  • Introduced wage increases and workplace changes after learning of the organizing drive; and
  • Promised future bonuses and flexibility to discourage union support.

Vice-Chair Jonathan Hanvelt ruled that these actions violated sections 6(1) and 6(3)(d) of the Labour Relations Code and effectively stopped the union campaign, making it impossible to determine workers’ true wishes through a vote.

Crucially, the Board pointed to a pattern of unlawful conduct by the same hotel group. In an earlier 2025 decision involving another Executive-branded property, Le Soleil Hotel, the Board found that management unlawfully interfered with union organizing by steering employees toward its preferred union, CLAC, to block UNITE HERE.

In the EXchange Hotel ruling, the Board Chair noted the remedy in this case needs to be a deterrent to future breaches, noting that some of the same decision-makers were involved in both cases and warning that lesser remedies risk becoming a “licence fee” for breaking the law.

“This is now the second Labour Board decision confirming that this hotel group crossed the legal line to stop workers from organizing,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The message from the Board could not be clearer: employers do not get to intimidate workers or interfere with their democratic right to choose a union.”

The Board ordered remedial certification of the union, a remedy reserved for the most serious cases of employer misconduct.  In addition to certifying the union, the Board ordered the employer to prominently post the decision in staff areas at the hotel.

This is the third downtown Vancouver hotel to join UNITE HERE Local 40 in the past six months. Local 40 recently organized Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni (formerly Shangri La) and Georgian Court Hotel.

The company that owns the EXchange Hotel, Executive Group, was also the source of controversy recently in the District of West Vancouver. A coalition of organizations raised concerns that a residential development owned by the company, Executive on the Park, is skirting rental housing commitments by marketing the units as extended-stay hotel units.

 

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

 

Press Release – Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni Workers Win Groundbreaking Contract, Setting New Wage Standard

VANCOUVER, BC — Hotel workers at the former Shangri-La Vancouver have secured a historic union contract that will raise wages for hotel workers to nearly $40 an hour by 2028, setting a new standard for hospitality jobs in Canada. The agreement affects approximately 90 workers who are represented by UNITE HERE Local 40.

This is the workers’ first collective agreement, which was ratified with 98% voting in favour. It delivers substantial wage gains – 25% to 50% over the life of the contract – with hotel housekeepers expected to earn nearly $40 an hour by the end of the term. The deal also includes job-security provisions to protect workers through ownership or brand changes.

Beyond significant wage increases, workers gained a union pension as well as banquet transparency measures to ensure fair distribution of service charges. The three-year agreement will expire in 2028.

The hotel, originally developed by Westbank and Peterson Group, was sold to Brookfield Asset Management this summer and temporarily renamed Hyatt Vancouver Downtown Alberni.  The property will undergo renovations next year and be rebranded under the luxury Park Hyatt brand.

“We are proud to welcome Hyatt Alberni workers to Local 40.  They have secured a new agreement that reflects what is possible when workers organize and stand together.  We thank Hyatt for coming to the table to reach an agreement and for investing in workers at this hotel,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

Hyatt Alberni workers joined Local 40 in July 2025. Their victory is part of a growing wave of hospitality workers rising up across B.C. This year alone, hundreds of workers at the Georgian Court Hotel, Vancouver Airport Marriott, Landsea Hospitality, Blackwater Mine, and other sites have unionized—showing that hospitality workers are on the move, standing strong, and reshaping the industry together.

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

 

YVR Airport Concessions Union files Unfair Labour Practices Complaint against Paradies Lagardère

Vancouver, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed an unfair labour practices (ULP) complaint with the BC Labour Relations Board alleging that Paradies Lagardère intimidated and retaliated against workers and unlawfully interfered in a union organizing drive at Vancouver International Airport (YVR).

The complaint outlines a series of incidents beginning November 14, 2025. This was just two days after the union notified a YVR official that Paradies workers were seeking union representation due to wages that lag $6–$7 per hour behind similar positions in unionized concessions such as HMSHost and SSP.

According to the complaint, Paradies managers held closed-door captive audience meetings in which employees were questioned about whether they had signed union cards, told they should not have signed, and warned that unionizing would lead to negative consequences. One manager told several workers that if they joined the union, their healthcare benefits could be suspended and that she would become “a different person” who would not be willing to help them at work.

The complaint alleges that one union supporter faced explicit retaliation for legally protected activity when her hours were dramatically reduced shortly after management learned she had encouraged another worker to sign a union card. When the worker inquired about the reduction, the manager threatened her, advising her to be “very careful” about what she did next.

“These actions are textbook violations of the Labour Code,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Paradies is creating a climate of fear to stop workers from joining together to win better wages and stable scheduling. No worker at YVR should have to face intimidation or threats for exercising their right to organize.”

The union is seeking a declaration that Paradies violated the Labour Code and for the Board to order remedial certification.

The ULP comes after concerns emerged in another jurisdiction where Paradies operates: Jacksonville, Florida. The Jacksonville Aviation Authority received community concerns about worker treatment, health inspection issues, and low scores on equity and local business engagement criteria. Over 500 letters from Duval County residents, as well as a statement from the North Florida Central Labor Council, and calls from multiple city councilmembers, urged the Authority to select an alternative operator over Paradies. The Authority ultimately chose to partner with another operator at Jacksonville International Airport.

“Airports across North America are taking a hard look at the companies they partner with,” Chan said. “We believe YVR should do the same and ensure that any concessionaire operating here respects both workers and the law.”