Picket Lines Up at Marriott Vancouver Airport and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels

Union granted extended picket line in second month of strike

Richmond, BC – The BC Labour Board has declared that Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers, represented by UNITE HERE Local 40, have the right to picket outside of its non-union sister hotels next door – the Hilton Vancouver Airport and Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotels, operated by the same company, Larco Hospitality. On Wednesday, the Labour Board deemed the three hotels a common site and is permitting striking workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels.

Picketing now takes place 7am to 7pm on Westminster Highway from the western edge of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel to Minoru Boulevard; Minoru Boulevard from Westminster Highway to Elmbridge Way; and Elmbridge Way from Minoru Boulevard to the western edge of the Sheraton.

The Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott Vancouver airport hotels in Richmond form British Columbia’s largest hotel complex, regularly accommodating large flight crews landing at YVR Vancouver Airport as well as airline passengers who have experienced flight delays. The extended picket line will affect guests staying at the Hilton and Marriott hotels, including airline staff and passengers.

Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers walked off the job on June 14 in their fight for living wages that would allow them to keep up with the skyrocketing cost of living in Metro Vancouver. On July 17, the Labour Board declared that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport violated the Labour Code by rebooking rooms for Porter, UPS, and Xiamen flight crews from the Sheraton to neighbouring Marriot and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels. Sheraton Vancouver Airport was also found to have wrongfully rebooked rooms for Air Canada and West Jet’s passengers from the Sheraton to the other two hotels, attempting to retain hotel business and undermine the strike action.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the Sheraton, Hilton and Marriott Vancouver Airport hotels. The BCFED boycott in Richmond extends to an unrelated hotel, Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport, where workers are also on strike. The public is advised to find alternate accommodations at River Rock Casino Resort or the Radisson on Cambie.

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

Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport Violated Labour Laws During Strike

Richmond, BC – Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport hotel has admitted to engaging in multiple violations of labour laws during a protracted strike by its hotel workers.  On Wednesday, the BC Labour Relations Board declared in a consent order that the employer breached the labour code by illegally using replacement workers to do the work of striking UNITE HERE members.

Workers have been on strike at the hotel, formerly Pacific Gateway, for over two years.  They struck after the employer terminated 143 long-term workers – mostly women – during the pandemic and demanded drastic concessions from remaining workers. Strikers have picketed the hotel daily since May 3, 2021; a customer boycott is also in effect.

The employer, an affiliate of PHI Hotel Group, was caught using impermissible workers to do housekeeping and maintenance work.  The employer was also found to have used four unlawful replacement workers, hired through a contractor, to perform the work of striking bargaining unit members.

The Labour Board ordered the employer to cease and desist from using impermissible replacement workers and ordered the employer to provide several disclosures on work performed at the hotel.  These include providing the Union with a daily breakdown of tasks performed by all managers hired after the hotel was given notice to bargain, and a daily list of all employees, contractors and subcontractors working in the hotel each day with their respective work assignments. The employer will also be required to provide hotel occupancy information to the Union.

“There is simply no excuse for the employer to be using unlawful replacement workers. PHI Hotel Group has an experienced, professional hotel staff who devoted years of service to this hotel. Instead of breaking the law, the owners should be returning long-term staff to their jobs and negotiating a fair contract so that they can take participate in Richmond’s booming hotel market and provide quality service to guests again,” said Zailda Chan, President of UNITE HERE Local 40.

 

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

Hospitality workers at Cedar Valley Lodge in Kitimat win up to 40% pay increases, avert strike at LNG Canada construction site

Kitimat, BC – On July 22, Sodexo hospitality workers at Cedar Valley Lodge voted 100% in favour to ratify their new collective agreement, securing significant wage gains and averting a strike at the LNG Canada construction site. Workers have bargained a new wage standard for British Columbia camp workers; most Cedar Valley Lodge staff will receive a 30-40% increase in compensation over the 1-year contract. Lodge workers will receive immediate wage increases of $5 per hour, with maintenance staff at the property receiving an immediate 10% pay increase.

Under the new agreement workers have won increases in vacation pay, significant medical benefit improvements, and established a retirement plan as well as workload protections for kitchen, janitor, and housekeeping positions. Lodge staff have also won an unprecedented remote hospitality worker premium. The new contract was reached following mediation with the employer at the BC Labour Board.

“I’m very proud that Cedar Valley Lodge workers have won the contract they needed. I believe this groundbreaking new agreement sends a strong message to camp workers across the province that when workers stand up for themselves, they win! Hospitality workers will not be overlooked or disrespected, and their work should be valued,” said Zailda Chan, UNITE HERE Local 40 President.

Cedar Valley Lodge accommodates up to 5,000 LNG camp workers involved in the pipeline project. The 450 Lodge workers – including housekeepers, kitchen staff, janitors, guest service agents and maintenance staff – unionized with UNITE HERE Local 40 and IBEW Local 993 on April 12. The workers voted 97% in favour of strike action on July 7, concerned with the rising cost of living in British Columbia. Sodexo Cedar Valley Lodge hospitality workers were the lowest compensated workers at the LNG Canada construction site. BC Building Trades members at the site expressed support for the Lodge workers.

“We at Cedar Valley Lodge have been fighting for three long years to be treated fairly. With this amazing contract I feel we have finally won respect, and something that represents us as industry professionals. We won a fair wage increase, improved benefits, but most importantly we are proud to be unionized with Local 40. This victory has changed my life and the lives of my coworkers. We’ve gone from tears of fear to tears of joy!” said Larry Samaroo, a Second Cook who has worked at the Lodge for three years.

 

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

BREAKING: Richmond Man Files Lawsuit Against Sheraton Vancouver Airport for False Imprisonment

Union ally was physically held by security guards as he attempted to exit the hotel  

 

Richmond, BC — A union supporter has filed a lawsuit with the Province Court of BC against Sheraton Vancouver Airport for unlawfully detaining him inside the hotel. The Claimant is suing the hotel for false imprisonment and is asking for general, aggravated and punitive damages in the amount of $35,000.

Alton Hei Ching Cheung is a member of the Richmond community who volunteered to support UNITE HERE Local 40 members currently on strike at the hotel. On June 16, Cheung – who is not a member of, nor works for the Union – went inside the Sheraton to help gather information and determine if the hotel was complying with labour laws.

Cheung moved around the hotel and took photos and videos. Management asked him to go to the hotel lobby, which he complied with. Cheung was then told by security guards that he was trespassing. In response, Cheung stated he would leave the hotel. It was then communicated to him that he was placed under citizen’s arrest, could not leave, and the police would be called. As Cheung attempted leave the property, guards placed their arms around Cheung and prevented him from exiting.

During Cheung’s interactions with security, managers and other employees of the hotel surrounded him and began to record him. Cheung was detained for approximately 20 minutes before guards allowed him to leave. Cheung stated he felt threatened and afraid after hotel security guards physically blocked him from exiting the property.

“The treatment of Alton Hei Ching Cheung by Sheraton Vancouver Airport is worrying, as the hotel has been previously caught breeching labour laws. Our union is concerned about ongoing illegal conduct by the Sheraton Vancouver Airport in their attempts to undermine our strike action. The Richmond community should continue to keep an eye on this hotel,” said Zailda Chan, UNITE HERE Local 40 President.

During the ongoing labour dispute at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport the Labour Board found the hotel violated labour laws on three occasions by using impermissible replacement workers. Last week, the Board declared the hotel wrongfully directed customers to their sister hotels next door to circumvent the strike. Workers at Sheraton Vancouver Airport walked off the job on June 14 in their fight for living wages.

 

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

BREAKING: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Violates Law by Moving Guests to Non-Union Marriott Vancouver Airport and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels During Strike

Richmond, BC — On Monday, the BC Labour Relations Board declared that the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel violated the Labour Code by rebooking rooms for Porter, UPS, and Xiamen flight crews from the Sheraton to neighbouring Marriot and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels during the current strike by members of UNITE HERE Local 40. Sheraton Vancouver Airport was also found to have wrongfully rebooked rooms for Air Canada and West Jet’s distressed passengers from the Sheraton to its sister hotels, which are operated by the same company and are non-union properties.

The Sheraton, Marriott and Hilton Vancouver airport hotels in Richmond form British Columbia’s largest hotel complex, and regularly accommodate large flight crews landing at YVR Vancouver Airport as well as airline passengers who have experienced flight delays. Amidst the workers’ strike at Sheraton which began on June 14, the company has been moving hotel guests to their other properties in an attempt to retain hotel business and undermine the strike action.

The Vice Chair of the Labour Board issued a cease and desist order against Sheraton Vancouver Airport for breaching the Labour Code. The Board is still considering what amount of damages the Hotel will have to pay to the Union for these breaches.

This is the fourth law violation the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel has committed since workers walked off the job in their fight for living wages. The hotel has been caught using impermissible replacement workers multiple times since the strike began.

The BC Federation of Labour has declared a public boycott of the three hotels. 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