Harrison Hot Springs Village Staff Asks Community to Stop Emailing About Resort Labour Dispute

Harrison Hot Springs, BC — Yesterday, Tyson Koch, Harrison Hot Springs Village’s Chief Administrative Officer, requested that community members stop sending emails related to the ongoing labour dispute at Harrison Hot Springs Resort (HHSR). This request comes after nearly 100 residents and community allies participated in a letter campaign that raised concerns about short-staffing, rising living costs for workers, and inadequate service at the resort. In addition to resort management, the emails were directed towards local government officials who are liaisons to the Harrison Tourism Society, including those from Village of Harrison Hot Springs, District of Kent, and Fraser Valley Regional District.

Koch responded with concerns about the volume of messages received. Allan Jackson, a Harrison Hot Springs Village Councilor, received over 40 emails in one week, which Koch called “excessive.” Koch stated that the Village Council and staff intend to remain neutral in the ongoing negotiations.

“The request from the village to cease communication on such an important community issue is concerning,” said Willy Pederson, a resident and worker at HHSR. “Harrison Hot Springs Resort plays a vital role in the local economy. The working conditions of resort workers is directly linked to the experience of visitors and, by extension, local businesses that depend on tourism. How is Harrison Tourism Society supposed to achieve its mission of representing the community if they are not accepting correspondence from us?”

The letter campaign highlighted the resort’s reported understaffing, which has led to service delays, including hours-long waits for basic services. The letters also called on local government representatives involved with the Harrison Tourism Society to advocate for fair labour practices and ensure the resort’s continued success.

Despite the council’s desire for neutrality, the community’s support for fair treatment of workers is strong. Many of the letters came from customers of the resort, as well as allies from across the province. The resort’s workers, who went on a three-day strike in July, remain committed to achieving a contract that reflects the rising cost of living and the value they bring to Harrison Hot Springs.

Contact: Nate Holers, 250-889-7682, [email protected]

Press Release: Hospitality Workers Unionize at Two Northern BC Camps

Vancouver, BC — Horizon North workers at Kobes Creek Lodge and CPC Montney Lodge are the latest camp workers to unionize with UNITE HERE Local 40.

Nearly 100 culinary and housekeeping workers are employed at the remote lodges north of Fort St. John which provide workforce accommodations for natural gas project crews.

Contract negotiations will soon be underway at each lodge. Workers are seeking standards that other unionized Local 40 Horizon North members have secured. Currently, Kobes Creek Lodge and CPC Montney Lodge staff are paid $5 to-$7 less than unionized Horizon North workers earn.  They are also seeking increased travel pay and affordable health benefits.

“Local 40 camp members are raising the bar for wages and working conditions in remote camps. They work on multi-week rotations away from home to provide top notch service to remote workforce crews. Workers at Kobes Creek and CPC Montney deserve the same standard that other Horizon North crews have fought for and won,” said Robert Demand, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 40.

Over 1,000 camp hospitality workers have joined UNITE HERE Local 40 in recent years, including workers at Red Chris Mine and Sodexo at Cedar Valley Lodge.

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

 

BREAKING: Another 200 YVR Airport food workers win $25 living wages

Richmond, BC — The number of YVR Airport food workers earning living wages will soon double. HMS Host workers at YVR Airport have voted unanimously in favour of a new collective agreement which secures $25 hourly wages at Canada’s #1 airport. Last month, SSP Canada workers at YVR broke ground by securing living wages at the airport – a first for airport food workers there.  The workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 40.

Over 200 HMSHost cooks, bartenders, servers, Starbucks baristas, production and warehouse workers are covered under the agreement.  Under the new contract, workers with five years of service will reach $25 this year with the rest earning that wage next year.  The new contract also provides workers free parking or a transit subsidy, more affordable health benefits, additional vacation for senior employees, and other gains.

By next year, more than 400 unionized YVR Airport food workers will be earning a living wage.  This sets a new standard for airport dining workers across Canada.

The Union applauds HMSHost’s approach to work together to address the stark challenges faced by airport workers grappling with the exorbitant cost of living in Metro Vancouver.

“This new agreement demonstrates the value of working in partnership with HMSHost to create family supporting airport jobs. On behalf of our airport members, we thank HMSHost for working collaboratively with the Union to create great airport jobs,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

HMSHost operates eight outlets at YVR Airport, including Stanley Park Taphouse, Canucks Bar & Grill, Tim Hortons, and multiple Starbucks outlets.

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

Breaking: LNG Camp Hospitality Workers, Janitors Avert Strike, Win New Contracts

Camp hospitality workers at the LNG Canada construction site have ratified two new collective agreements with 99% voting in favour.  Workers achieved their main goal of winning job security for the future in case Phase 2 of the LNG project proceeds.

The new collective agreements ensure that should Phase 2 of the project proceed, Sodexo and Horizon North or any successor must recall the existing workers with their seniority and union contract. This will ensure continuity for existing workers, many of whom are new Canadians.

The contracts cover 500 Sodexo housekeepers, kitchen and maintenance workers employed at Cedar Valley Lodge, which houses 4,500 camp workers, as well 60 janitors employed by Horizon North who clean LNG site office facilities.  The workers are represented by UNITE HERE Local 40 and IBEW Local 993.

“Hospitality workers take great pride in their work and want a secure future. On behalf of our members, we thank JGC Fluor, Sodexo and Horizon North for committing to good camp hospitality jobs,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

Workers also secured wages and other health and retirement benefit improvements that continue to make these the best camp hospitality jobs in BC. For example, housekeepers at the camp will be earning close to $29 per hour next year.

This summer, Sodexo and Horizon workers voted 90% across the bargaining units in favour of strike action. Sodexo workers’ contract expired on July 22, while the janitors’ contract expired May 1.

UNITE HERE Local 40 has organized over 1,000 camp workers in the past few years. Most recently, workers at Red Chris Mine in the Stikine Region and CPC Montney Lodge in Peace River unionized with Local 40.

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

BREAKING: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Workers Reach Collective Agreement, Conclude 14-Month Strike

Workers have ratified new agreement with 85% voting in favour

Richmond, B.C. — After a 14-month strike, hotel workers at Sheraton Vancouver Airport have ratified a new collective agreement with their employer that secures living wages and stronger economic security. This brings an end to the strike and lifts the boycott of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and its sister hotels next door, Hilton Vancouver Airport and Vancouver Airport Marriott. Workers will be returning to their jobs in coming days to welcome guests back to Sheraton.

“This is amazing. I’ll earn $26 an hour when I go back to work and will make over $30 an hour at the end of this contract. We feel really good about what we achieved. The strike was difficult, and it took a long time to get here, but we are so proud of what we were able to win together. We love our hotel and are excited to welcome our guests back to the Sheraton,” said Ana Wong, a room attendant with 32 years on the job.

The striking workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, secured 30.5% increases for all Sheraton employees, including significant increases at ratification. That means staff will be earning a living wage as they return to work and have secured meaningful wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living. Most room attendants, for example, will be earning over $30 per hour by the end of 2026.

The agreement provides for return-to-work bonuses, an increase in banquet workers’ gratuities as well as transparency and other tip protections. Room attendants secured daily room cleaning language which helps ensure safer workloads and a better guest experience. The contract also provides for new health benefits for workers, including year-round benefits – a rarity in the hospitality sector – and establishes new sick days. Over 85% of members voted in favour of the new agreement which expires in 2027.

“I feel very good about this contract. The last 14 months have been hard and exhausting, but we held together like a family. My co-workers on the picket line were fantastic. We knew we had to fight and work hard for a new contract, and we stuck together. The company now has a better understanding of what the needs are for our jobs, and we feel good about moving forward together. I want to thank our customers who supported us during this strike and invite them all to come back to the hotel,” said Russell Jamieson, a shuttle driver who has worked at the hotel for 42 years.

“The Union Bargaining Committee stood together through thick and thin during a challenging 14 months. The strikers were tough and demonstrated incredible resolve in deciding to stay on the picket line to fight for themselves and their families. This new agreement sets the Union on a new path with Larco Hospitality, and we look forward to forging ahead in a productive and positive working relationship with them,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

Sheraton workers launched the strike on June 14, 2023, and received a tremendous amount of support from the labour movement, elected officials, community allies and hotel customers. The boycotts issued by the BC Federation of Labour and Canadian Labour Congress of Sheraton Vancouver Airport, the Hilton Vancouver Airport, and Marriott Vancouver Airport have been lifted.

The Union invites former and prospective guests to return to Sheraton Vancouver Airport and its sister hotels.

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