Archive for category: News

Press Release: Hospitality Workers’ Union Challenges City of Vancouver’s Failure to Provide Equal Language Access at Public Hearings

Vancouver, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a human rights complaint with the B.C. Human Rights Tribunal on behalf of three hotel workers, alleging the City of Vancouver discriminated against them by denying them an equal opportunity to participate in a public hearing held by City Council on June 2, 2026.

The workers, all members of UNITE HERE Local 40, registered to speak at a public hearing on the city’s Bill 16 Financing Growth Update, which included a proposed incentive for hotel developers. Each planned to speak in their first language, Punjabi or Serbian, with consecutive English interpretation provided by their own translator.

The complaint argues that the city provides no clear interpretation services for public hearings and no clear process for those who wish to speak in a language other than English.  Instead, the city created barriers to allowing the workers’ interpreters to participate by phone.

Despite repeated attempts, the city’s telephone system failed to allow the interpreters to be heard by Council. In one case, Councilor Sarah Kirby-Yung, who was presiding over the hearing as acting Deputy Mayor, refused an interpreter’s attempt to provide English translation. As a result, Council did not receive translations of the speakers’ comments.

This effectively denied those wanting to use translators an equal opportunity to address Council.  The complaint challenges these barriers as discrimination by denying the speakers equal access to a public service, contrary to the BC Human Rights Code.

“Vancouver is one of Canada’s most diverse cities, yet those whose first language is not English can still be shut down at City Hall,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “The right to fully participate in public hearings should not depend on the language you speak.”

The Union is seeking systemic remedies requiring the city to establish interpretation procedures and accessible technology so that all members of the public can meaningfully participate in future Council hearings.

Last month, four hospitality workers filed a judicial review with the Supreme Court of B.C. seeking to overturn two rezoning decisions made by City Council on May 5 and May 7 after being denied a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public hearing process.

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

Press Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Files Court Challenge Over Vancouver Hotel Development Incentive

Petition alleges City Council approved new hotel development incentive after being wrongly told provincial law required it

Vancouver, BC — UNITE HERE Local 40 has filed a petition in the Supreme Court of British Columbia seeking judicial review of the City of Vancouver’s decision to grant hotel developers a new density bonus that was approved based on an unreasonable interpretation of provincial law.

Unlike traditional density bonuses, which are intended to secure public amenities or affordable housing, the new provision rewards hotels for building commercial spaces that primarily generate revenue for the hotel itself.  The exclusion allows developers to build larger hotels without rezoning approval, while providing no comparable public benefit to Vancouver residents.

The petition asks the Court to quash Council’s June 2, 2026, decision to create a new floor area exclusion for downtown hotel projects, potentially worth millions of dollars in additional development rights, and send the matter back to Council for reconsideration.

According to the petition, city staff repeatedly advised Council and the public that the change was required to comply with provincial housing legislation under Bill 16, the Housing Statutes Amendment Act, which sets out new rules for municipalities to streamline housing approvals. The Union argues that this advice was legally incorrect.

“Council was told this change was mandatory. It wasn’t,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “It was a new incentive for hotel developers to build larger projects by excluding commercially valuable space from density calculations. This case is about ensuring major planning decisions are made fairly and determined on the basis of accurate information.”

UNITE HERE Local 40 argues that nothing in Bill 16 required the city to make this change. Instead, the lawsuit says Council relied on an unreasonable interpretation of the legislation when approving the bylaw.

The amendment replaces an existing discretionary hotel density provision with a new rule allowing downtown hotel developments to exclude up to 20 per cent of their floor area from density calculations for revenue-generating spaces such as meeting rooms, conference facilities, business centres, and other hotel spaces.

This is the second time UNITE HERE Local 40 has sought judicial review of a City of Vancouver decision involving hotel development. In May, the Union filed a judicial review challenging Council’s approval of a proposed floating hotel at Canada Place over concerns that material information about the project was withheld, denying the public a fair hearing process. The latest petition continues the Union’s efforts to ensure that significant planning decisions are made in accordance with the law and in the public interest.

The court challenge follows a new report released by the Union challenging claims that Vancouver faces a hotel room shortage “crisis” requiring public incentives. The report found no evidence of a long-term supply crisis and concluded that many industry claims relied on selective data and unsupported assumptions.

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

 

New Report: Vancouver City Hall Fast-Tracking Hotels While Affordable Housing Falls Behind

Analysis finds hotel approvals are outpacing affordable housing, even as World Cup demand falls short and voters overwhelmingly prioritize homes over hotels

A new report released today by UNITE HERE Local 40 raises serious questions about Vancouver City Hall’s push to fast-track hotel development while the city’s housing affordability crisis continues to worsen.

The report, Vancouver’s Hotel Room ‘Crisis’: A Developers’ Bonanza, Not an Affordability Solution, finds that Vancouver City Council has approved more hotel rooms than affordable housing units over the past year and a half, while advancing policies that give hotel developers new incentives, reduced contributions, and faster approvals.

The report argues that Vancouver has an affordability crisis, not a hotel crisis, and that City Hall is prioritizing hotel development while deeply affordable housing falls behind.

“Vancouver residents and workers are being told there is an urgent hotel room crisis, but the data tells a different story,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “At a time when people are struggling to afford rent, City Hall should be moving with urgency to build affordable housing, not giving hotel developers a fast track.”

According to the report, hotel approvals have outpaced affordable housing approvals over the combined 2025 and 2026 year-to-date period. In 2025, Council approved 1,011 hotel rooms compared to 719 social housing and co-op homes. In 2026 year-to-date, Council approved nearly 2,000 hotel rooms compared to 1,848 social, non-market, and co-op homes. Combined, that amounts to 16.2 per cent more hotel rooms than affordable housing units approved during the period analyzed.

The report also challenges one of the central arguments used to justify urgent hotel approvals: World Cup demand. Despite repeated warnings that Vancouver lacked enough hotel rooms for FIFA, recent reporting on booking data shows that Vancouver-area June hotel bookings were down 20 percent.

The report points to several public policy advantages being extended to hotel developers, including density incentives, Community Amenity Contribution exclusions, fast-track zoning, reduced development charges, and the removal of future public hearings for some hotel projects.

The report also warns that some hotel proposals could displace existing renters. It flags proposed hotel developments at 75 East 8th Avenue and 148 East 6th Avenue as projects that could replace existing rental housing with hotel rooms.

The release of the report comes as recent polling shows Vancouver voters support prioritizing affordable housing over hotel development by a three-to-one margin.

“Voters are clear: affordable housing should come first,” said Chan. “Vancouver workers keep this city running. They serve the visitors, staff the hotels, clean the rooms, cook the food, and care for the city. They deserve to live here too. That is why we are calling for Affordable Housing Now.”

The report is being released as workers, residents, and community allies prepare to launch Affordable Housing Now! – a campaign calling on Vancouver City Hall to put affordable housing before hotel developer giveaways.

Key Findings from the Report

  • Hotel approvals are outpacing affordable housing. The report finds Council approved 1,011 hotel rooms compared to 719 social/co-op/supportive homes in 2025, and 1,972 hotel rooms compared to 1,848 social/co-op/supportive homes in 2026 year-to-date.
  • Over the combined period, hotel rooms beat affordable housing units by 16.2%.
  • The World Cup “hotel shortage” argument is weakening. Recent reporting of booking data shows Vancouver-area June hotel bookings were down 20 percent, with average occupancy across Vancouver’s seven match days at 57.4%.
  • Vancouver may hit its year 2050 hotel room target decades early. Nearly 7,000 hotel rooms are already in the development pipeline toward a 10,000-room target by 2050.
  • Hotel developers are receiving major public policy advantages. The report cites density incentives, CAC exclusions, fast-track zoning, reduced development charges, and removal of future public hearings for some hotel projects.
  • Existing renters could be displaced. The report flags 75 East 8th Avenue and 148 East 6th Avenue as hotel proposals that could displace tenants from existing rental housing.

About Affordable Housing Now!

Affordable Housing Now! is a campaign of workers, residents, and community allies calling on Vancouver City Hall to address the city’s housing affordability crisis with the urgency it deserves. The campaign is calling for affordable housing to be prioritized over hotel developer giveaways, fast-tracked hotel approvals, and policies that put tourism development ahead of residents’ needs.

 

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

 

 

Press Release: Hospitality Workers File Petition in Court Over Flawed Public Hearings on Major Rezoning Decisions

Vancouver, BC – Four hospitality workers have filed a judicial review seeking to overturn two major City of Vancouver rezoning decisions after being denied a meaningful opportunity to participate in the public hearing process. The workers are members of UNITE HERE Local 40.

The petition challenges City Council’s approval of the citywide “Fast Track” rezoning plan affecting nearly 2,400 commercial properties and the proposed 888 Cambie Street development, a project that would include a 246-room hotel and market rentals.

The petition alleges that procedural failures during public hearings prevented registered speakers from being heard before Council made its decisions.

According to the petition, speakers encountered multiple barriers during the May public hearings, including last-minute agenda changes, missed notifications, confusion regarding speaker order, and failures in the City’s remote participation system. Some registered speakers remained connected throughout the hearing but were not given the opportunity to address Council.

The court challenge raises broader concerns about public participation in municipal decision-making, particularly as City Hall advances significant zoning changes and major development proposals.

“Hospitality workers are the backbone of Vancouver’s tourism industry,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Many of them came to Canada believing that if you work hard, follow the rules, and participate in your community, your voice matters. But when workers register to speak, wait for hours, and are not given the opportunity to be heard, the message they receive is that City Hall is listening to developers while ordinary people are left on mute.”

The petition asks the Court to quash the rezoning approvals and send them back to Council for reconsideration with a lawful public hearing process.

The petition was filed on June 4, 2026, in the Supreme Court of British Columbia.

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

Press Release: YVR Airport Workers Rally for World Cup Bonus, $30 Wage, Job Security Ahead of FIFA World Cup

VANCOUVER, BC —Dozens of YVR Airport concession workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, held a rally at the airport yesterday calling for a $30 wage and stronger job security protections as they prepare to welcome visitors attending the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The rally comes after workers delivered a petition signed by more than 1,500 airport workers to the Vancouver Airport Authority last month.  The petition demanded a $1,000 FIFA World Cup bonus to all airport workers.

“We aren’t asking for millions of dollars. Our hard work makes YVR the number one airport in North America.  We’re asking for $30 an hour and a World Cup bonus because we’re barely making enough to cover rent and our bills,” said Aswin Murali, a cook employed by SSP’s Whistler Brewing.

Despite record passenger volumes, strong airport revenues of $717 million, and preparations for the World Cup which will generate millions for YVR and FIFA, many airport workers struggle with low wages, precarity, and the rising cost of living.  Workers say that those gains should be shared with the very concession workers who contribute to the airport’s success.

“Too many airport concession workers are juggling two or three jobs to make ends meet. They are dedicated but low-paid and still vulnerable to contract flipping.  FIFA World Cup will generate wealth for game organizers, the city, and the Airport Authority, but what about those who serve them?  Workers deserve their fair share,” said Gulzar Grewal, UNITE HERE Local 40 Vice-President.”

UNITE HERE Local 40 represents over 1,000 airport concession workers at YVR and growing.  Most recently, Compass workers at Air Canada Lounges across the airport voted to join the union.

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