Evenlyne Saller Centre in Vancouver’s Downtown Eastside is looking to fill 2 Casual General Help positions immediately. Positions may include Dishwasher, General Help, or Prep Cook.
If interested, please call John at 604 675 5983 or email him at [email protected] with your resume.
Evelyne Saller Centre is located at 320 Alexander St., Vancouver BC.
Vancouver, BC — Yesterday, Vancouver City Council passed a motion to support laid-off hotel workers’ right to return to their jobs. The motion, sponsored by Councillor Jean Swanson, received support across the political spectrum with all councillors present voting in favour and one abstention. The City of Vancouver joins the City of Burnaby, Victoria City Council, and New Westminster City Council in passing similar motions.
The motion calls on Council to affirm that people should not lose their livelihoods due to the pandemic and to support the BC Unequal Women campaign. Council will request the Mayor write to the Ministers of Labour and Tourism expressing Council’s support for the right for laid-off workers to return to their jobs when the pandemic eases. The motion also calls on the Mayor to write to the Lower Mainland Local Government Association and Union of BC Municipalities encouraging them to host future conventions in venues that respect workers’ rights.
The motion not only indicates City support for laid-off hotel workers hit hard by the pandemic; it also sends a powerful message to hotels that use COVID-19 as an excuse to fire their employees that they could risk a loss in business if they do not treat workers fairly. City support for hotel workers’ right to return to their jobs has strong ramifications for large conventions such as UBCM that utilize a number of downtown hotels.
The COVID-19 pandemic devastated the hospitality industry throughout the province and disproportionately affected women and people of colour, many of whom work at hotels in Vancouver. BC hotels are using the pandemic as an excuse to fire their long-term workforce, roll back wages, and eliminate pension and benefits. Hotel workers launched the BC Unequal Women campaign to call attention to the hotel industry’s attack on jobs predominantly held by women, especially racialized women. Hotel workers urged Council to pass the motion and support those hardest hit by the pandemic.
“The Vancouver City Council sent a strong message today that hotel workers deserve to return to their pre-pandemic jobs when business recovers. All levels of government should be doing more to ensure that women and racialized people don’t get left behind in the COVID-19 recovery. That’s why I’m calling on other political leaders to join us to make sure hotel workers do not lose their livelihoods because of the pandemic,” said Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson who sponsored the motion.
“I’m thrilled that Vancouver City Council did the right thing and supported BC’s unequal women. At a time when hotels are using the pandemic to fire long-time workers, we need our political leaders to do more to protect our livelihoods during the COVID-19 recovery.” said Naden Abenes, a room attendant of Hyatt Regency Vancouver for 13 years and a Vancouver resident.
At a time when the province is providing over $130 million in new money to aid economic recovery in the tourism sector, hotels across Vancouver such as Pan Pacific Hotel at Canada Place and Fairmont Waterfront are using the pandemic to terminate long-term workers and take back economic gains made by women and people of colour who have long served the hotel. Hotel workers are urging elected officials at all levels of government to do more to support economically vulnerable workers hardest hit by the COVID-19 crisis.
#BCUnequalWomen
https://www.bcunequalwomen.org/bc-travel-alert/
CONTACT: Stephanie Fung, [email protected], 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
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UNITE HERE Local 40 is a labour union representing workers in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
‘How much has the government spent on this hotel while women like me are treated like we’re disposable?’
Vancouver, BC – Workers told the Standing Committee on Health yesterday that a federal quarantine hotel fired most of its female staff on the government’s watch, and more women could lose their jobs if the government fails to act. The hotel, Pacific Gateway at Vancouver International Airport, recently terminated over 140 long-term staff, primarily impacting women – many of whom are racialized.
“I was terminated last month along with many of my co-workers. The hotel fired 90% of our housekeeping staff. Most of us are women who have worked there for decades. There’s no reason why we should lose our jobs during a temporary pandemic,” said Kiran Dhillon, a room attendant who had worked at the hotel for seventeen years.
A human rights complaint over sex and racial discrimination was filed against the hotel this month alleging women, particularly racialized women, have been disproportionately targeted for terminations while men’s jobs were more likely to be protected. So far, the hotel has terminated 74% of its female employees since February 2021.
“Prime Minister Trudeau promised us a feminist recovery, but women are bearing the brunt of firings at Pacific Gateway on the government’s watch. How much has the government spent on this hotel while women like me are treated like we’re disposable? I am a single mom raising two children. I expected to go back to my job when it was time,” said Elisa Cardona, who worked at Pacific Gateway for seven years as a hostess and server.
After workers testified, opposition critics on the committee questioned Ian Stewart, President of the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC), about the situation at the hotel and how long the government plans to continue its hotel quarantine program. Stewart would not say how long the federal government intends to continue with the program. When asked by NDP MP Don Davies whether PHAC would provide a copy of the government contract with Pacific Gateway to the Health Committee, Stewart said they would look into it.
Pacific Gateway is one of the original sites taken over by the federal government last year to quarantine travelers. Pacific Gateway workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, went on strike on May 3, 2021 over hotel firings and drastic economic rollbacks. Workers have asked to return to their jobs after the federal quarantine ends and when the work becomes available again. The hotel has refused.
To view hotel workers’ testimony, go to: https://rb.gy/x5npkk
To view NDP MP Don Davies question to Ian Stewart, President of PHAC, go to: https://rb.gy/w7y8nl
To read Conservative MP Michelle Rempel Garner’s statement, go to: https://rb.gy/upzksm
To view Conservative MP John Barlow question Ian Stewart, go to: https://rb.gy/i3nfb7
The full committee meeting can be viewed here: https://parlvu.parl.gc.ca/Harmony/en/PowerBrowser/PowerBrowserV2/20210607/-1/35650?Language=English&Stream=Video
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For more information, contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785.
Vancouver, B.C.— Major BC unions are upping the ante on its boycott and threatening to lock Hilton Metrotown out of any business in 2022 unless the hotel settles the labour dispute with its locked out workers by June 30. At a press conference today, UNITE HERE Local 40 and BCGEU joined Hilton Vancouver Metrotown hotel workers on the picket line to announce the new pledge which will go into effect if the hotel fails to resolve the dispute this month.
This unprecedented move by prominent union customers could cost the hotel up to $2 million next year—in addition to lost business this year—if Hilton Metrotown fails to resolve the lockout and commit to reinstate workers fired during the pandemic.
In early April, major union customers pledged to withhold their business until the Hilton Metrotown guaranteed workers a right to return to their jobs. Hotel management locked out workers on April 15 after firing 97 long-term workers. Burnaby City Council also adopted a resolution to support Hilton Metrotown workers and withdraw business from the hotel. Now, unions have decided that if the Hilton Metrotown does not reinstate the terminated workers and resolve the labour dispute by June 30, 2021, they will relocate their business for the entire calendar year of 2022.
Robert Demand, Executive Director of UNITE HERE Local 40: “Hilton Metrotown workers have been locked out for six weeks, and the hotel has yet to demonstrate a willingness to resolve the lockout or commit to reinstate their long-term workers. Our members are relentlessly fighting back. Thanks to BCGEU and our other strong union allies who have agreed to this new pledge which escalates the boycott to make sure the hotel returns workers to their jobs. Other hotel employers considering the path that Hilton Metrotown has taken should think again.”
Stephanie Smith, President of BCGEU: “The way the Hilton Metrotown has treated Unite Here members during the COVID-19 pandemic is despicable. As BC’s restart plan moves ahead no one should be okay with hotel workers being left behind. Before the pandemic the BCGEU spent $500,000 dollars each year at the Hilton Metrotown and we would have been booking again as soon as the restrictions were lifted but we will not support a business that mistreats workers. On behalf of the 82,000 members of the BCGEU, I urge the Hilton Metrotown to get back to the table, negotiate a fair deal, and bring these workers back to their jobs once the pandemic is over.”
Sergio Moyer, locked out Guest Services lead: “It’s unbelievable the depths to which Hilton Metrotown has gone to get rid of my co-workers who have dedicated their lives to building this hotel. For management to still lock us out for this long despite many customers moving to other hotels, including Lufthansa, is an all-time low. That’s why we’ve decided to escalate the boycott with this new pledge. I’m grateful to BCGEU and my union siblings for standing beside us in this fight – together, we will continue to fight back until the Hilton Metrotown returns workers back to their jobs.”
Currently, BCGEU, CUPE BC, HEU, MoveUp, BCTF, PSAC BC, CUPE BC, UFCW 1518, IBEW Local 258, BC Insulators Local 118, Boilermakers Lodge 359, and Brewery Winery and Distillery Workers Local 300 have joined the pledge.
Hilton Metrotown’s treatment of its long-term staff is part of a broader industry attack on hotel workers. Hotel employers across BC have used mass pandemic firings to roll back decades of economic gains made by hotel workers, disproportionately impacting women and immigrants.
For additional information, please contact:
Stephanie Fung, 604-928-7356, [email protected]
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UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
Vancouver, B.C.— Today, on Thursday June 3rd, union leaders alongside locked out Hilton Vancouver Metrotown hotel workers will hold a press conference announcing a new pledge that will see large unions vowing to boycott Hilton Metrotown for the entire year of 2022, causing an estimated loss of $2 million annually for the hotel. Previously, unions such as BCGEU, HEU, and MoveUp, pledged to withhold their business until the Hilton Metrotown guaranteed workers a right to return to their jobs. Hotel management locked out workers on April 15 after firing 97 long-term workers. Now, as workers enter the 7th week of the lockout, unions have decided that if the Hilton Metrotown does not reinstate the terminated workers and resolve the labour dispute by June 30, 2021, they will relocate their business for the entire calendar year of 2022. So far, 11 unions have joined the pledge, indicating a potentially devastating financial hit for the hotel.
WHO: Union leaders of UNITE HERE Local 40 and BCGEU, and locked out Hilton Metrotown workers.
WHERE: 6083 McKay Ave, Burnaby, BC
WHEN: Thursday, June 3, 11 a.m.
VISUALS: Hotel workers and allies wearing masks standing 2 metres apart, chanting and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns.
Media availability with union leaders of UNITE HERE Local 40 and BCGEU, and Hilton Metrotown hotel workers.
For additional information, please contact: Stephanie Fung, 604-928-7356, [email protected]
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UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.