Archive for category: News

UNITE HERE Local 40 Welcomes New Members at Vancouver International Airport

Over 300 Vancouver International Airport (YVR) concession workers employed by Host have joined UNITE HERE Local 40, BC’s hospitality workers union.  Starbucks, White Spot, Burger King and retail workers have united with nearly 200 previously unionized YVR concessions workers to raise standards for all concession workers at YVR.  This effort was led by Union and non-union workers who mobilized to win recognition and a contract for non-union Host workers.  This organizing victory is a direct result of Local 40 members winning their 2010 strike and lockout, which centered on the issue of job security at YVR. 

This is a particularly important victory for airport concession workers, many of whom work two or three jobs in order to support themselves and their families.  They also face the perennial threat of having their units closed, putting some workers at risk of losing their jobs.  Together, we will raise standards and fight to create good, stable jobs at YVR.

Congratulations to Robert Demand, Local 40’s New President

75594_10151463168576838_1671364852_nOn February 25, 2013, Local 40 members elected a new President, Robert Demand, and a new Executive Board composed of Local 40 members from around British Columbia. Secretary-Treasurer, Shelly Ervin and Vice President, Lorrie Dyer, were re-elected to their previously held positions.  Below is a list of the newly elected Executive Board and Trustees:

  • Gulzar Grewal, Room Attendant, Coast Plaza Hotel, Vancouver
  • Lisa Larson, Banquets, Coast Bastion Inn, Nanaimo
  • Bruna Padularosa, Cold Prep, Compass at SFU, Burnaby
  • Raul Cruz, Banquets, Four Seasons Hotel, Vancouver
  • Jimmy Khan, Engineer, Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, Richmond
  • Leine Neilsen, Room Attendant, Hyatt Regency, Vancouver
  • Margaret Prieston, Room Attendant, Ramada Inn, Prince George
  • Edward Leung, Equipment Handling, Gate Gourmet at YVR, Richmond
  • Noy Paguio, Room Attendant, Westin Bayshore, Vancouver
  • Heather Flatt, Room Attendant, Coast Capri, Kelowna
  • Abraham Rodriguez, Busperson, Renaissance Hotel, Vancouver
  • Teresa South, Room Attendant, Inn at Laurel Point, Victoria
  • Fipe Wong, Cook, HMS Host at YVR, Richmond
  • Dianne Melville, Houseperson, Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Richmond
  • Naden Abenes, Room Attendant, Hyatt Regency, Vancouver
  • Guy Gazeley, Event Supervisor, Rogers Arena, Vancouver

Congratulations to the new Executive Board and to the newly elected and re-elected officers of UNITE HERE Local 40!

 

Event: SFU Living Wage Campaign Launch on February 20

Release of Report – ‘SFU: Becoming the First Living Wage University in Canada’

Lat year the Living Wage for Families Campaign, in conjunction with a number of groups in SFU, undertook a survey of low wage workers in the University.  Following on from this process the ‘SFU Living Wage Campaign’ was formed with the aim of  persuading SFU to become the first Living Wage Campus in Canada. As the first step in this campaign we would like to invite you to the release of the report:

 ‘Simon Fraser University: Becoming the First Living Wage University in Canada’

on February 20th, 2013 at 12.30pm-1.30pm
In the West Mall Atrium, SFU.

Hosted by SFU Alumni,
Mae Burrows.

Speakers: Professor Marjorie Griffin Cohen, SFU
Michael McCarthy Flynn, Living Wage for Families Campaign
John Bannister, CUPE 3338

Tea and Coffee

About: This community-based collaborative research report assesses the extent and nature of low wage poverty experienced by people working in Simon Fraser University (SFU) and explores the options open to SFU to address this issue. This event will be the first of a series of dialogues with all members of the SFU community around this issue and provide an opportunity to explore how SFU can ensure that everybody in SFU earns a Living Wage.

Read a summary of the report:
Report Summary

Sign the Petition
http://livingwagesfu.wordpress.com/join-us-get-involved/

Keep up to date with the ‘SFU Living Wage Campaign’ on Social Media:

Facebook and Twitter

 

e: [email protected]
w: livingwagesfu.wordpress.com

 

Rally Tuesday to save the Waldorf Hotel!

Support the Waldorf Hotel Workers! Rally at Vancouver City Hall at noon on Tuesday, January 15! Address: West 12th Ave and Cambie.

Coast Hotel Workers Ratify New Agreement!

UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Coast Hotels in Victoria, Nanaimo, Kelowna and Prince George have voted 92% to ratify a new 3-year contract that will dramatically improve access to health care benefits for workers and their families.

The settlement was reached on the verge of potential strikes in the Nanaimo and Victoria hotels.

Local 40’s bargaining committee and Coast management reached agreement that effective January 1, 2013, the hours needed for health care eligibility will be lowered from 30 hours/week to an average of 20 hours/week. With this victory, Coast workers now have the best eligibility system in any of Local 40’s contracts.

Other worker goals that were met in this settlement include additional reductions to room attendant workload, improved banquet workers’ rights, establishment of paid sick time, improved pension contributions to include paid time off, a 5% wage increase and improved extended health care benefits so that room attendants can receive much needed physiotherapy.

“These were challenging negotiations but we’re very pleased Coast management has chosen to take the lead in addressing health care eligibility and improving key benefits for their employees. We’re hoping this will set the pattern for hotels around the province,” said Robert Demand, Chief Negotiator for Local 40.

Coast Discovery Inn workers in Campbell River will be voting soon on their own contract settlement which provides for the same improvements in health care eligibility and benefits, improved pension contributions and room attendant workload reductions.

Local 40 is continuing discussions with Coast management about the Coast Coal Harbour Hotel in Vancouver.