BREAKING: Hospitality Workers at Cedar Valley Lodge in Kitimat Authorize Strike

Job action may disrupt LNG Canada pipeline project

Kitimat, BC – Friday afternoon, Sodexo hospitality workers at Cedar Valley Lodge have voted 97% in favour of strike action. Workers are frustrated with little movement by management in bargaining to address cost of living concerns. Cedar Valley Lodge is the only accommodation facility in Kitimat large enough to house workers for the LNG Canada project. Usually accommodating up to 5,000 camp workers, a strike at the worksite could cause significant disruption to pipeline work.

Sodexo Cedar Valley Lodge hospitality workers are the lowest compensated workers at the LNG Canada construction site. The poly-party vote was conducted by UNITE HERE Local 40 and IBEW Local 993. The workers are asking for significant economic improvements that will allow them to keep up with the rising cost of living. The 450 workers – including housekeepers, kitchen staff, janitors, lounge servers, guest service agents, and maintenance – unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40 and IBEW on April 12.

BC Building Trades workers at the LNG Canada camp received a 12.5 % wage increase in 2022, and by the end of October 2023 will receive an additional 10% increase. Sodexo hospitality workers at Cedar Valley Lodge were not included in these increases. Some Lodge workers are making $5 per hour less than they earned in the same positions at the Kitimat Modernization Project 8 years ago.

“Cedar Valley Lodge workers are being treated unfairly. We deserve fair pay for the work we do – not to be the lowest paid people at the LNG Canada camp. With families to support, we need to be able to keep up with our bills. We will not be disrespected anymore, and we are ready to strike if we do not receive a fair proposal,” said Mike Lightheart, a First Cook who has worked at Cedar Valley Lodge for 3 years.

Mediation between the Union and the employer begins today at the BC Labour Board.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

BREAKING: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Violates Labour Law Third Time

Employer continues to use unlawful replacement workers in an attempt to undermine strike

 

Vancouver, BC —The BC Labour Relations Board has declared that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel violated the Labour Code by continuing to use impermissible replacement workers to perform the duties of striking UNITE HERE Local 40 members. The Vice Chair of the Labour Board issued a cease and desist order against hotel management for assigning impermissible replacement workers a greater proportion of concierge work than that previously shared between the bargaining unit and management.

This is the third law violation the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel has committed since workers walked off the job three weeks ago in their fight for wages that keep up with the escalating cost of living in Metro Vancouver. On June 30, the Labour Board ordered the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, the Hilton Vancouver Airport, and the Vancouver Airport Marriott to stop contracting shuttle bus companies and paying taxi drivers to perform the work of striking employees.

On June 23, the Labour Board ordered the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel to cease and desist using any impermissible workers to perform the work of any bargaining unit employee that is on strike after the hotel was caught using six unlawful replacement workers. This included the hotel using replacement workers to backfill the work of a Front Desk Duty manager.

“It makes me angry that our managers seem to have no issue breaking laws during our strike and continue to use replacement workers. The refuse to treat us with respect and acknowledge they need their staff to keep the Sheraton Vancouver Airport running as guests expect. My coworkers and I want to get back to work – but we’re not working for less than living wages,” said Felisha Perry, banquet server.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the three hotels, Sheraton Vancouver Airport, where workers are on strike, and the non-union Hilton Vancouver Airport and Vancouver Airport Marriott next door, which are operated by the same company. The workers continue to picket outside of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport daily from 7am to 7pm.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

BREAKING: Company violated law by paying non-union drivers to transport guests from airport to Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Vancouver Airport Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport during strike

Labour Board issues cease and desist order against Larco Hospitality affiliates

 

Vancouver, BC — The BC Labour Board has ordered the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, the Hilton Vancouver Airport, and the Vancouver Airport Marriott to stop contracting shuttle bus companies and paying taxi drivers to perform the work of striking employees. The Board issued the ruling in favour of UNITE HERE Local 40, which represents the strikers.

Sheraton Airport workers, including shuttle bus drivers, have been on strike since June 14. The three hotels breached the labour code by using contracted shuttle bus companies, by directly paying cab drivers, and by reimbursing guests for taxi services between the airport and the hotels. Larco Hospitality operates the three hotels which are in the same complex. The Board ordered the employer to cease and desist from paying these non-union drivers to transport guests to and from the hotels.

The Vice Chair ruled that the three hotels are controlled by a common employer in this decision. The order was issued on June 30. This is the second time in as many weeks the employer has violated the labour code by using replacement workers.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the three hotels, Sheraton Vancouver Airport, where workers are on strike, and the non-union Hilton Vancouver Airport and Vancouver Airport Marriott next door.

 

CONTACT: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com.

Media Advisory: NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh to Walk Richmond Picket Lines on Canada Day Weekend

Richmond, BC – TODAY NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh will visit Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel picket lines in support of striking workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40. With Canada Day weekend kicking off the busy summer tourist season, hotels are booming again but hotel workers are falling behind in the economic recovery.

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport (formerly Pacific Gateway): Workers have been on strike for over 2 years – the longest hotel strike in B.C. history. During the pandemic, the hotel terminated 143 long-term staff, mostly women and people of colour. While the hotel was being used as a federal quarantine facility, the owner’s mass terminations forced out 70% of hotel staff, while the remaining workers struck in May 2021. The owner, an affiliate of PHI Hotel Group, refuses to recall workers to their jobs as other area hotels have done.

Sheraton Vancouver Airport: Workers walked off the job on June 14 and are entering the third week of the strike. The hotel remained open during the pandemic with staff serving on the front lines. With Richmond hotels now booming, workers ask “Where’s our recovery?” as wages at the top convention hotel have not kept up with rising cost of living in Metro Vancouver. Last week, the BC Labour Board declared that the employer, Larco Hospitality, violated B.C.’s anti-scab law and used unlawful replacement workers.

The BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) has declared a public boycott of Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport and Sheraton Vancouver Airport. The official boycott extends to the Sheraton’s sister hotels next door – the Hilton Vancouver Airport and Marriott Vancouver Airport – which are operated by the same company.

 

WHO: MP Jagmeet Singh with striking workers, joined by Hermender Singh Kailley, Secretary-Treasurer of the BCFED and other community allies from across the lower mainland.

WHEN: TODAY, Friday, June 30

11:00 A.M. at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Hotel (3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond)

11:45 A.M. at Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel (7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond)

VISUALS: MP Jagmeet Singh, hotel workers and community allies chanting, marching, and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns. Striking hotel workers and UNITE HERE Local 40 representatives will be made available for interviews.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com

Breaking: BCFED Issues Boycott of Three Vancouver Airport Hotels Following Labour Code Violation

For Immediate Release

Vancouver, BC — The BC Federation of Labour (BCFED) has declared a public boycott of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport, in support of hundreds of UNITE HERE Local 40 members currently on strike at the top convention hotel. The official boycott extends to its sister hotels next door – the Hilton Vancouver Airport and Marriott Vancouver Airport – which are operated by the same company.

“Our movement doesn’t use boycotts lightly. But when an employer repeatedly treats their workers with callous disrespect and appalling unfairness, a boycott is exactly the right response. UNITE HERE Local 40 workers deserve our full support — and this employer doesn’t deserve a dime of our business,” said Sussanne Skidmore, President of the BC Federation of Labour.

Officers of the BCFED, representing nearly fifty affiliated unions with approximately 500,000 members across the province, voted to declare the boycott on June 23.  The BCFED is urging affiliates and the broader public to seek alternative accommodation and not conduct any business with the three hotels until an agreement is reached between the employer and the striking workers.

The strike on the Sheraton hotel is into its second week. UNITE HERE Local 40 members are picketing for living wages as Vancouver airport hotel room revenues have surged to record highs.

“We are grateful for the support and solidarity from the BCFED. This boycott sends a strong message to the employer that hotel workers will not be ignored – our members will continue in their fight for living wages, supported by our allies, until they win the respect and fair contract they deserve,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

The decision to support the boycott comes on the heels of a ruling by the BC Labour Board last week declaring that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport violated labour laws by using unlawful replacement workers to perform bargaining unit work of striking workers. The Labour Board ordered management to cease and desist and to provide a daily list of all permissible replacement workers that are performing bargaining unit work on that day, with their specific assignments and duties.

“We urge all union members and every worker to give their valuable business to hotels that respect working people,” said Skidmore.

Workers are picketing the Sheraton Vancouver Airport daily from 7am to 7pm. UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport (formerly Pacific Gateway) in Richmond also remain on strike; the BC Federation is continuing its boycott of that hotel. Prospective customers are advised to book at these alternative airport hotels: River Rock Casino Resort, Radisson Hotel on Cambie, or go to FairHotel.org.

Media Contacts: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, sharan@unitehere40.com, or Michelle Travis, 778-960-9785, mtravis@unitehere.org.

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