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.

BREAKING: YVR Airport Food Workers Secure $25/Hour Living Wage

Airport food staff sets new standard at Canada’s #1 airport

SSP Canada food workers at Vancouver International Airport (“YVR”) have voted 93% in favour of ratifying a groundbreaking collective agreement which achieves $25 living wages. This is the first contract for the workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, which joined the union last year.

The new collective agreement provides substantial wage increases immediately and ensures SSP workers will be brought up to $25/hour living wages by next year.  Workers achieved significant health benefit improvements for themselves and their families and established new rights to take vacation time.

“I’ve worked for SSP at YVR Airport for 14 years and am so happy that we will now earn a $25/hour living wage and other new benefits.  Our hard work sustains travelers and contributes millions of dollars to the airport community daily.  Together, we stood up and demanded what we deserve to support ourselves and our families in this unaffordable city.  We hope that inspires other YVR airport workers to stand up for more,” said Remedios Tamayo, a cook at Dirty Apron.

The new contract also provides a taxi/Uber reimbursement for those required to report to work outside of public transit hours, as well as a transit discount. Earlier this year, YVR ended its transit reimbursement program for airport operators and shifted the cost onto low-wage staff. Workers also secured gratuity protections and other gains.

In June, SSP food attendants, cooks, dishwashers, servers, bartenders, among others, launched a one-day strike action at YVR Airport to drive home the message that living wages are needed to live in Metro Vancouver.  Although YVR is a certified living wage employer, foodservice staff, primarily immigrant women, are not covered by the policy. The workers garnered support from the broader airport community; thousands of airport workers and their supporters petitioned the Vancouver Airport Authority to broaden its living wage policy.

“We applaud SSP America for demonstrating leadership among airport operators.  They are the first foodservice operator at YVR Airport to walk the talk about being a living wage employer. We hope other airport operators will follow their lead,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

SSP operates thirteen outlets at YVR Airport, including: Whistler Brewhouse, LIFT Bar and Grill, Dirty Apron, Freshii, Thai Hang, Urban Crave, Church’s Chicken, Sal y Limón, Banh Shop, Nourish, Tru Burger, Rice Tales, and El Chiquito.

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

BREAKING: Workers Deliver 72-hour Strike Notice to Downtown Vancouver Hotel

Vancouver – Workers at Holiday Inn Hotel & Suites Vancouver Downtown have issued 72-hour strike notice to their employer.  They join hundreds of other hotel workers across Downtown Vancouver who are demanding higher wages and better working conditions while the city’s hotels draw record-setting revenues.

Room attendants, front desk agents, cooks, dishwashers and others at the 245-room hotel near the Granville Entertainment District will be in a position to take strike action effective Monday, July 29.

“Our wages are too low considering how expensive Vancouver is today. Rent, groceries, and prices, for basically everything, has gone up. My co-workers and I are having to consider second jobs to get by.  The hotel is charging guests over $500 for a room tonight, but management dismisses us when we say we deserve more,” said Andrea Fuentes, a room attendant at the Holiday Inn & Suites for 22 years.

Nearly 2,000 hotel workers with UNITE HERE Local 40 are in contract bargaining across downtown Vancouver this summer demanding wages that keep up with the city’s astronomical cost of living. Hotel workers at Hyatt Regency Vancouver launched a one-day strike action last week and rallied around the demand that it takes $40/hour to live in Vancouver.

Vancouver’s hotel industry continues to boom with soaring room rates. Hotel room revenues reached nearly $1.4 billion last year, rebounding strongly after the pandemic, and are on track to top last year’s earnings.  While hotel room revenues hit record levels in Vancouver and province-wide, hotel staffing in accommodations has declined 30% on average since 2019.

Holiday Inn workers voted 96% in favour of strike action earlier this month. The collective agreement expired in May.  The hotel is operated by Atlific Hotels.

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