Archive for category: News

Press Release: 1,500 YVR Workers Demand $1,000 FIFA Bonus Ahead of YVR Airport Annual Public Meeting

VANCOUVER, BC — More than 1,500 YVR airport workers and supporters have signed a petition demanding that Vancouver International Airport provide a $1,000 FIFA World Cup bonus for all airport workers ahead of FIFA World Cup 2026.

The petition was delivered to the Vancouver Airport Authority by members of UNITE HERE Local 40 in advance of YVR’s Annual Public Meeting yesterday, where airport executives highlighted another year of strong financial performance, record passenger traffic, and international recognition.

In 2025, YVR welcomed a record 26.9 million passengers and reported approximately $717 million in annual revenues, reflecting continued growth at the airport as they prepare for the FIFA World Cup 2026.

Workers say those record numbers have not translated into economic security for many of the frontline employees who keep the airport operating every day.

“Behind the awards and record passenger numbers are workers who are working two and three jobs just to make ends meet,” said Jennie Padilla, a cook at Sal Y Limon.  “Cleaners, food service workers, wheelchair attendants, security staff, baggage handlers, and retail workers are the reason YVR functions every day, yet too many are still earning near minimum wage.”

Workers say the pressure on frontline staff will only intensify during FIFA World Cup 2026, when YVR is expected to experience significantly increased passenger volumes and operational demands as one of Canada’s key international gateways.

“If YVR can afford executive compensation packages, major expansion projects, and global FIFA branding opportunities, it can afford to recognize the workers who will carry the burden of making the tournament successful,” said Padilla.

The petition calls on YVR leadership and the Vancouver Airport Authority to commit to a $1,000 FIFA bonus for all airport workers, including contracted workers employed throughout the airport ecosystem, as a tangible recognition of the workforce behind the airport’s success.

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

Press Release: Council Betrays Vancouver Residents Again, Votes to “Fast-Track” Rezoning across Local Neighbourhoods

ABC Councillors Joined by OneCity in Yet Another Developer Giveaway

Vancouver, BC – In a decision that disregards widespread public opposition, Vancouver City Council has voted to approve the city’s controversial “fast-track” rezoning plan, enabling a sweeping mass upzoning across thousands of properties to accelerate market rental and small hotel development.

Despite more than 1,700 letters submitted to Council and hours of public testimony raising concerns about affordability, displacement, and the erosion of public input, ABC Councillors were joined by Councillors Lucy Maloney and Rebecca Bligh to support the plan. Councillor Pete Fry abstained.

The approved policy will allow 6–8 storey market rental buildings and hotels across key neighbourhood corridors, without requiring meaningful below-market housing, and creates carve-outs for hotel developers to bypass public hearings entirely.

“We need homes tourism workers can afford, not expensive market rentals and hotels,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Council had a clear choice: act on affordability or hand over even more power to developers. They chose the latter.”

Speakers warned Councilors that the so-called “fast-track” proposal would amount to a citywide giveaway, driving up land values, fueling speculation, and accelerating displacement of renters, workers, and small businesses.

At the same time, Council continues to prioritize hotel development over affordability. Thousands of hotel rooms have already been approved, with thousands more in the pipeline, while working people struggle to afford rent.

These changes will directly impact neighbourhood corridors such as Main Street, E. Hastings (Hastings/Sunrise), Victoria Drive, Fraser, Nanaimo, Renfrew, Commercial Drive, West 10th Avenue, West 4th Avenue, Cornwall Avenue, Alma, West 41st Avenue, Kingsway, and many others.

UNITE HERE Local 40 represents hospitality workers across Metro Vancouver, many of whom are directly impacted by rising rents and housing instability.

“Workers in this city are being pushed further and further out,” Chan added. “Approving more high-priced rentals and hotels without addressing affordability is not a solution, it’s the problem.”

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

Press Release: UNITE HERE Local 40 Urges Council to Prioritize Housing Affordability over Hotel and Developer Profits

Vancouver, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40, the union for hospitality workers, is raising concerns about three proposals before Council on May 5 that fail to address Vancouver’s urgent affordability crisis for modest- and lower-income residents.

Two proposals will go to public hearing, while a third will bypass a public hearing entirely.

“Fast-Tracking Rezoning” – A Citywide Giveaway to Developers:

City Hall is proposing a mass rezoning of 2,348 properties across Vancouver to fast-track 6-8 storey market rentals and hotels – with no requirement for below-market housing. Key corridors like Main Street, East Hastings, Fraser Street, Victoria Drive, West 4th, West 41st, Dunbar and others would be upzoned. The likely result: higher land values and rents, increased speculation, and displacement of renters, small businesses and workers.

Despite already approving thousands of hotel rooms, the City is offering incentives to hotel developers and would allow these projects to bypass public hearings, regardless of local area impacts.

These changes are explicitly designed to improve “project viability” for developers, while local area residents are largely left out of the process.

Cambie Street Project: No Affordable Housing, Minimal Public Benefit:

A proposed 29-storey tower at 888–896 Cambie would include 246 hotel rooms and 165 market rental units – but not a single unit of affordable housing. The applicant proposes to demolish a heritage building and would grant the developer a massive density increase (from 5.0 to 19.5 FSR) in exchange for just $1.38 million in community amenity contributions.

With average downtown market rents requiring incomes that exceed $90,000 -$150,000, these units will be out of reach for most Vancouver residents.

888 W 8th Hotel – No Public Hearing:

The third proposal, a 16-storey hotel, will bypass a public hearing altogether despite potential impacts on the quiet, residential street. If approved, this will be the third hotel project approved within walking distance of the area.

Council has approved projects with over 3,000 hotel rooms and nearly 4,000 more in the pipeline. Despite adopting a policy adding 10,000 hotel rooms by 2050, hotel approvals are moving so quickly that Council is on track to reach that number years – if not decades – ahead of schedule, all while the affordability crisis goes unaddressed.

Homes not Hotels:

This is a fundamental misalignment with what should be the city’s top priority; affordability.  Many tourism workers cannot afford to live in the city they serve.

“These proposals double down on hotels and high-priced rentals, while doing nothing for affordability,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “Council should decide: are they governing for residents, or for developers?”

UNITE HERE Local 40 is urging Council to reject these proposals.

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

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Media Advisory: Hospitality Workers to Demonstrate During FIFA Congress in Vancouver

Vancouver, BC – Today, as the 76th FIFA Congress meets at the Vancouver Convention Centre, hospitality workers from Pan Pacific Vancouver will hold a demonstration to highlight the growing gap between the billions generated by the global sporting event and the affordability crisis faced by the workers who make these events possible.

Squeezed by the cost-of-living crisis in Vancouver, many workers at the Pan Pacific Vancouver struggle to afford to live in the very city they help showcase to the world. Meanwhile, the City of Vancouver and the Province of British Columbia are committing hundreds of millions in public funds to prepare for the World Cup, while FIFA and major hotels, like Pan Pacific, stand to reap huge financial gains. Workers will call for fair wages, improved working conditions, and meaningful government action to address the cost-of-living crisis impacting hospitality workers across the city.

WHO: Hospitality workers from Pan Pacific Vancouver, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, and community allies.

WHEN: Thursday, April 30, at 4:15 PM

WHERE: Outside Pan Pacific Vancouver, 999 Canada Place, Vancouver, BC.

VISUALS: Workers and allies will be marching, carrying signs and chanting with bullhorns.

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

 

Press Release: Council Sides with Developers, Approves Coal Harbour “Floatel” Despite Community Opposition

Vancouver, BC – In a decision that sidesteps community concerns, a majority of Vancouver City Council approved a controversial 250-room floating hotel in Coal Harbour.

The vote came despite opposition from residents and hospitality workers, including members of UNITE HERE Local 40, who rallied at City Hall ahead of the public hearing.

“Yet again, Council has chosen a developer over working people,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40. “This is another giveaway to a hotel developer that doesn’t need it, while hospitality workers struggle to afford to live in the city they serve.”

The project, a six-storey floating hotel roughly the length of two NHL hockey rinks, will be moored in Coal Harbour through at least 2060. It will partially block public waterfront views of the harbour and north shore along the seawall, and at the Burrard Street end panoramic view, the Vancouver Convention Center and Canada Place.  Neither the publicly available applicant materials submitted to the city, nor the city’s public notice, provide a clear illustration of how popular viewing areas will be blocked.

Council approved the project despite concerns about minimal public benefits. The developer refused to provide a $3.6 million contribution to offset municipal costs, similar to standard payments other developers are expected to contribute. Although some councilors acknowledged they would prefer to see the developer make a financial contribution to offset impacts, they let the developer off the hook with their vote in support.  Instead, the developer offered limited public access to a dock primarily serving its own spa and café.

Questions were also raised pertaining to city oversight of safety inspections. Unlike other developments, the floatel will not have to obtain City building and occupancy permits, relying instead on third-party inspections. Questions also remain about sewage management and the impact on the marine environment.

The project is backed by Finnish operator Sunborn Group and the Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre.  Sunborn recently experienced financial difficulties with another floatel, Sunborn Gibraltar. Their Gibraltar operation defaulted on a €60 million bond payment in 2024 and remedied the payment last year.

Highlighting how disconnected the proposal is from everyday Vancouverites, Vancouver Harbour Flight Centre chair Graham Clarke responded to the public’s concerns by suggesting the site could instead become a private mega-yacht marina with no public access. Clarke stated he could “sell memberships to billionaires,” underscoring the project’s focus on private luxury over public benefit.

The decision comes as City Hall pushes to rapidly expand hotel capacity, with thousands of new hotel rooms already approved or underway, while hospitality workers are being squeezed by the affordability crisis.

“This is a bad deal for Vancouver. Rather than address the affordability crisis facing working people in Vancouver, Council is easing the way for luxury hotel developments that fail to contribute their fair share to our city,” said Chan.

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