Press Release: City of Burnaby to Urge Bridge Studios Owner Larco to Provide a Fair Wage Settlement for Striking Hotel Workers

Council will urge studio owner, Larco, to offer fair settlement after eight-month strike at Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel

 

Burnaby, BC — Burnaby City Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday for the City to support Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel strikers and to write a letter to Bridge Studios’ owner Larco Investments, the owner of the hotel, urging them to provide a fair wage settlement to workers. This followed a delegation to Council representing the hundreds of workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel – members of UNITE HERE Local 40 – now in their eighth month on strike. In addition to owning the Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott Vancouver Airport hotels where picket lines are up, Larco also owns Bridge Studios in Burnaby.

 

The BC Labour Board deemed the Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels a common site and is permitting striking Sheraton workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels. The BC Federation of Labour, representing nearly fifty affiliated unions with approximately 500,000 members across the province, has declared a public boycott of the hotel complex. Last month Richmond City Council passed motions to not use the three hotels until a new collective agreement is reached with the striking workers. The workers, many who reside in Burnaby, are fighting for pay increases that will bring them to Metro Vancouver’s current living wage of $25.68 per hour.

 

“We thank Burnaby Council for their solidarity with us as we continue in our fight for living wages,” said Shaelyn Arnould, striking Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel worker and Burnaby resident. “In 2021, the City of Burnaby supported our locked-out Hilton Metrotown members by not spending any city money at the hotel until a fair contract was reached. Their support was pivotal for hotel workers, and again Burnaby Council has shown they support the continuation of good, family-supporting hotel jobs.”

 

Larco owns the three Richmond hotels – making up the largest hotel complex in BC – as well as a series of movie studios under the banner Bridge Studios in Burnaby. Bridge Studios is a job creator in Burnaby with a major footprint in the city; Bridge Studios has properties on Boundary Way and Griffiths Drive, as well as an additional studio in development on Lake City Way.

 

“By sending a letter to Larco in support of the strikers, the City of Burnaby is demonstrating their commitment to fair wages for workers in Burnaby and across our province. Our strike is about earning enough to live, and we will continue in our fight until Larco treats hospitality workers with the respect we deserve,” said Shaelyn Arnould.

 

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

Media Advisory: Striking Hotel Workers to Urge Burnaby City Council to Support Fight for a Living Wage and Boycott the Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels

Burnaby, BC — TODAY, a delegation of striking Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers will speak before Burnaby City Council to urge the City not to spend any public money at the Sheraton, as well as it’s sister hotels – the Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels – until the labour dispute is resolved. The BC Labour Board deemed the three hotels, operated by Larco Hospitality, a common site and is permitting striking workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels. Now in their seventh month on strike, Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers – represented by UNITE HERE Local 40 – will ask the Council to support their fight for a living wage from the employer and respect their boycott of these Richmond hotels. Larco also owns Bridge Studios, based in Burnaby.

Last month, Richmond City Council passed resolutions in support of the striking workers and will not support events or promote any business with the hotels until a new collective agreement is reached. The workers, many who reside in Burnaby, are fighting for pay increases that will bring them to Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68 per hour.

 

Delegation Details

When: TODAY, Monday, February 12

Where: Burnaby City Hall, 4949 Canada Way, Burnaby

Time: 5PM

 

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

Press Release: Richmond City Council Votes to Not Do Business with Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels

Resolution supports Richmond Workers’ Fight for a Living Wage

 

Richmond, BC —Richmond City Council unanimously passed a motion on Monday for the City to not use the Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels in support of Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers fighting for living wages, now in their seventh month on strike. A delegation representing the hundreds of workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel – members of UNITE HERE Local 40 – presented to Council. City Councillors were urged not to spend any public money at the Sheraton, as well as its sister hotels – the Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels – all behind picket lines, until the labour dispute at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel is resolved.

“I am very happy Richmond City Council is doing the right thing and passed a motion not to do business with the Sheraton, Marriott and Hilton YVR hotels,” said Felisha Perry, a striking banquet server at the Sheraton and a Richmond resident. “Our ongoing strike is fundamentally about earning enough to live. Council has shown they stand with working people fighting for a living wage and are helping us send a message to one of Canada’s wealthiest hotel owners to respect workers and resolve this dispute.”

In 2022, Richmond City Council adopted a resolution that they will not support events or promote any business with Pacific Gateway Hotel (since renamed Radisson Blu) until an agreement with the union has been reached. They acted accordingly on Monday, officially boycotting the Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott Vancouver Airport hotels – the largest hotel complex in BC – until a new collective agreement is reached at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport. The BC Labour Board deemed the three hotels, operated by Larco Hospitality, a common site and is permitting striking workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels.

The workers, many who reside in Richmond, are fighting for pay increases that will bring them closer to Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68 per hour.  The BC Federation of Labour, representing nearly fifty affiliated unions with approximately 500,000 members across the province, has declared a public boycott of the hotel complex.

 

Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1643, sharan@unitehere40.com

Press Release: Striking Hotel Workers to Urge Richmond City Council to Support Fight for a Living Wage and Boycott the Sheraton, Marriott, and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels

Richmond, BC — TODAY, a delegation of striking Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel workers will speak before Richmond City Council to urge City Councillors not to spend any public money at the Sheraton, as well as it’s sister hotels – the Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotels – until the labour dispute is resolved. The BC Labour Board deemed the three hotels, operated by Larco Hospitality, a common site and is permitting striking workers to picket the perimeter of the hotels. Now in their seventh month on strike, Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers – represented by UNITE HERE Local 40 – will ask the Council to support their fight for a living wage from the employer and respect their boycott of these Richmond hotels.

In 2022, Richmond City Council adopted a resolution that they will not support events or promote any business with Pacific Gateway Hotel (since renamed Radisson Blu) until an agreement with the union has been reached. Sheraton Vancouver Airport workers will ask Council to act accordingly in 2024, officially boycotting the Sheraton, Hilton, and Marriott Vancouver Airport hotels – the largest hotel complex in BC – until a new collective agreement is reached. The workers, many who reside in Richmond, are fighting for pay increases that will bring them closer to Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68 per hour.

The Sheraton Vancouver Airport hotel was found to have violated the Labour Code multiple times in 2023 after workers walked off the job on June 14. This included using unlawful replacement workers to perform bargaining unit work of striking workers, and rebooking rooms for guests, as well as illegally moving events, from the Sheraton to neighbouring Marriott and Hilton hotels. “It is unacceptable that this employer has repeatedly violated the law, while refusing to seriously address workers’ wage concerns in an effort to resolve this dispute,” said Zailda Chan, UNITE HERE Local 40 President.

The BC Federation of Labour, representing nearly fifty affiliated unions with approximately 500,000 members across the province, has declared a public boycott of the hotel complex. “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.” said Sussanne Skidmore, President of the BC Federation of Labour.

“City Council should do the right thing and adopt a resolution not to do business with the Sheraton, Marriott and Hilton Vancouver Airport hotels,” said Felisha Perry, a striking banquet server at the Sheraton and a Richmond resident. “Our strike, now in its seventh month, is fundamentally about earning enough to live. We want Council to stand with those of us fighting for a living wage and send a message to one of Canada’s wealthiest hotel owners to respect workers and resolve this dispute.”

 

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

Media Advisory: “Will representatives of the Fijiian Honourary Consul of Canada be crossing our picket line?” Strikers to hold New Year’s Eve Protest at The Deck at Radisson Blu

Richmond, BC – Striking hotel workers at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport hotel will be ringing in 2024 with a protest over a New Year’s Eve event planned at the hotel’s restaurant, The Deck. Strikers have urged party organizers not to cross their picket line and requested they move their event elsewhere. The party is being co-organized by Abhi Prasad, Assistant to the Fijian Honourary Consul of Canada and head of Surrey-based Metropolitan Security, with Sparq Productions.

Workers have been on strike at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport hotel for over two years – since hotel management terminated 143 workers, or 70% of their staff, during the pandemic. This impacted nearly all the hotel’s housekeepers and The Deck staff. Most of the impacted workers are women; many are from the South Asian community and worked at the hotel complex for decades. It is currently the longest hotel strike in Canada.

 

Protest Details

When: New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2023

Where: The Deck at Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport hotel, 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond, BC. (The Deck is behind the hotel, on the marina side.)

Time: 6PM

Visuals: Hotel workers chanting and marching with signs and noisemakers.

 

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