Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
Victoria, B.C.— Today, on the ninth day of their hunger strike outside the BC Legislature, delegations of fasting hotel workers will urge Ministers Lana Popham (MLA, Saanich South) and Rob Fleming (MLA, Victoria-Swan Lake) to protect the jobs of 50,000 hotel workers across BC. The fasters will deliver a petition, signed by hundreds of supporters, to the ministers urging them to enact protections for hard-hit hotel workers laid-off due to the pandemic.
Tomorrow: Demonstration to Save 50,000 Jobs to be held at BC Legislature
Wednesday, August 19, 12pm: Fasters and their allies will hold a demonstration outside the BC Legislature ahead of the government’s announcement on recall protections. The provincial review of recall protections is expected to conclude on August 20. While the government contemplates the tourism sector’s request for a $680 million bailout, laid-off hotel workers face the risk of being permanently replaced. Hotel workers want a legal right to return to their jobs as business recovers.
WHO: Hotel workers, community allies from across Victoria and the Lower Mainland.
WHERE: 501 Belleville St, Victoria, BC
WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 12 p.m.*
VISUALS: Fasters marching in procession, socially distanced and wearing masks, with protestors chanting and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns.
*Media availability with fasting hotel workers.
-30-
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2020-08-18 08:31:522020-08-18 08:32:39Day 9 of “Fast for Our Jobs” – Hunger Strikers to Ministers Lana Popham and Rob Fleming: Protect our Jobs!
Victoria, B.C.— Fasting hotel workers have entered the second week of their hunger strike. Although the legislative summer session has ended, hotel workers continue to forego food on the lawn of the BC Legislature to call attention to the plight of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers who want the legal right to return to their jobs when the industry recovers. The province says no decision will be made before a provincial review of recall protections concludes on August 20.
Fasters will lead several actions this week, including:
Tuesday, August 18: Delegations to Victoria-area MLAs
Wednesday, August 19: Rally at BC Legislature, 12PM
Thursday, August 20: Candlelight Vigil at BC Legislature (time TBA)
Friday, August 21: Press Conference (time TBA)
More details will be announced throughout the week.
-30-
Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2020-08-17 10:30:192020-08-17 10:30:19Day 8 of “Fast for Our Jobs”- Hotel Workers Enter Week 2 of Hunger Strike; More Actions Planned in Victoria
Victoria, B.C.— Fasting hotel workers have entered the second week of their hunger strike. Although the legislative summer session has ended, hotel workers continue to forego food on the lawn of the BC Legislature to call attention to the plight of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers who want the legal right to return to their jobs when the industry recovers. The province says no decision will be made before a provincial review of recall protections concludes on August 20.
Fasters will lead several actions this week, including:
Tuesday, August 18: Delegations to Victoria-area MLAs
Wednesday, August 19: Rally at BC Legislature, 12PM
Thursday, August 20: Candlelight Vigil at BC Legislature (time TBA)
Friday, August 21: Press Conference (time TBA)
More details will be announced throughout the week.
-30-
Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2020-08-17 10:15:352020-08-17 10:15:35Day 8 “Fast for Our Jobs”: Hotel Workers Enter Week 2 of Hunger Strike; More Actions Planned in Victoria
Province says no decision on protecting laid-off workers before Aug. 20
More to join fast and relieve outgoing hunger strikers
Victoria, B.C. – Although the legislative summer session concluded yesterday, hotel workers continue to wage their hunger strike for the right of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers to return to their pre-COVID jobs. Minister of Labour Harry Bains announced in a press conference late this week that no decision will be made regarding recall protections until a provincial review of the issue concludes in six days.
Hotel workers awaiting a decision from the government will continue the open-ended hunger strike. Two of the fasters who began their hunger strike on Monday were advised by a medic to end their fast due to health concerns. More hotel workers will arrive to take their place on Saturday and will fast throughout the week in Victoria.
“Fasting was not an easy decision to make. It takes a toll on our bodies, but I chose to make the sacrifice because I want to send a message to the province about how the pandemic is affecting 50,000 laid-off hotel workers. If the province gives the hotel industry the $680 million they’re asking for, the province should also help workers get our jobs back,” said Naden Abenes, a laid-off room attendant from the Hyatt Regency Vancouver who concluded her fast Friday.
Since launching the hunger strike on August 10, fasters have engaged in a series of actions including a car caravan demonstration encircling the BC Legislature, daily serenading and leafletting of elected officials, and meetings with MLAs. Fasters received visits by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Victoria MP Laurel Collins who shared words of support for the hotel workers, as well as from Green Party leadership candidate, Dimitri Lascaris. Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson held a public fast outside the office of a Vancouver NDP MLA on Wednesday.
As the legislative session wound up on Friday, fasters and community members presented a representative of Minister Bain’s office with a petition signed by hundreds of supporters urging the province enact a legal right for workers to return to their jobs as the industry recovers. The lack of protection for those laid-off due to the pandemic prompted laid-off hotel workers to launch the hunger strike. The province has appointed a lawyer to review the matter and is expected to issue a report by August 20.
###
Contact: Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9786; or Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2020-08-15 09:46:112020-08-15 09:46:11Day 6: “Fast for Our Jobs” Continues at BC Legislature
Victoria, BC – Fasting hotel workers welcomed two prominent visitors to their encampment at the BC Legislature yesterday – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Victoria MP Laurel Collins. The MPs stopped by to share words of encouragement and support with the fasters on the fourth day of their hunger strike. The workers launched a “Fast for Our Jobs” on Monday urging the province to enact a legal right for hard-hit hotel workers to eventually return to their jobs.
Singh and Collins gathered with the fasters in an impromptu meeting at the fasters’ tent. Singh told the group of laid-off hotel workers: “We think about you all the time. It is going to be a while before tourism, hotels and all the workers get back to work. There needs to be some sort of support in place for these [workers]. It is a very serious challenge, and we are going to be there with you every step of the way.”
The fasters applauded the messages from the MPs and expressed their hope that the province will act urgently.
“I’m really glad NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Collins came by to talk to fasters about the situation we’re facing. They gave us moral support. That’s so important right now because time is running out. We hope the government will do the right thing. After fasting for four days, we want an answer from the province. We need to know if we’ll have the right to be recalled to our jobs,” said Naden Abenes, a laid-off room attendant from the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.
Singh and Collins join a growing group of elected officials, community and faith leaders who have expressed their support for the fasting hotel workers. Victoria City Councillor Sharmarke Dubow visited with the fasters earlier this week; Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson held a public fast outside the office of a Vancouver NDP MLA on Wednesday.
###
Contacts: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or
Day 9 of “Fast for Our Jobs” – Hunger Strikers to Ministers Lana Popham and Rob Fleming: Protect our Jobs!
Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
Victoria, B.C.— Today, on the ninth day of their hunger strike outside the BC Legislature, delegations of fasting hotel workers will urge Ministers Lana Popham (MLA, Saanich South) and Rob Fleming (MLA, Victoria-Swan Lake) to protect the jobs of 50,000 hotel workers across BC. The fasters will deliver a petition, signed by hundreds of supporters, to the ministers urging them to enact protections for hard-hit hotel workers laid-off due to the pandemic.
Tomorrow: Demonstration to Save 50,000 Jobs to be held at BC Legislature
Wednesday, August 19, 12pm: Fasters and their allies will hold a demonstration outside the BC Legislature ahead of the government’s announcement on recall protections. The provincial review of recall protections is expected to conclude on August 20. While the government contemplates the tourism sector’s request for a $680 million bailout, laid-off hotel workers face the risk of being permanently replaced. Hotel workers want a legal right to return to their jobs as business recovers.
WHO: Hotel workers, community allies from across Victoria and the Lower Mainland.
WHERE: 501 Belleville St, Victoria, BC
WHEN: Wednesday, August 19, 12 p.m.*
VISUALS: Fasters marching in procession, socially distanced and wearing masks, with protestors chanting and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns.
*Media availability with fasting hotel workers.
-30-
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
Day 8 of “Fast for Our Jobs”- Hotel Workers Enter Week 2 of Hunger Strike; More Actions Planned in Victoria
For Immediate Release – August 17, 2020
Victoria, B.C.— Fasting hotel workers have entered the second week of their hunger strike. Although the legislative summer session has ended, hotel workers continue to forego food on the lawn of the BC Legislature to call attention to the plight of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers who want the legal right to return to their jobs when the industry recovers. The province says no decision will be made before a provincial review of recall protections concludes on August 20.
Fasters will lead several actions this week, including:
Tuesday, August 18: Delegations to Victoria-area MLAs
Wednesday, August 19: Rally at BC Legislature, 12PM
Thursday, August 20: Candlelight Vigil at BC Legislature (time TBA)
Friday, August 21: Press Conference (time TBA)
More details will be announced throughout the week.
-30-
Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
Day 8 “Fast for Our Jobs”: Hotel Workers Enter Week 2 of Hunger Strike; More Actions Planned in Victoria
Victoria, B.C.— Fasting hotel workers have entered the second week of their hunger strike. Although the legislative summer session has ended, hotel workers continue to forego food on the lawn of the BC Legislature to call attention to the plight of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers who want the legal right to return to their jobs when the industry recovers. The province says no decision will be made before a provincial review of recall protections concludes on August 20.
Fasters will lead several actions this week, including:
Tuesday, August 18: Delegations to Victoria-area MLAs
Wednesday, August 19: Rally at BC Legislature, 12PM
Thursday, August 20: Candlelight Vigil at BC Legislature (time TBA)
Friday, August 21: Press Conference (time TBA)
More details will be announced throughout the week.
-30-
Contact: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785
UNITE HERE Local 40 is the hospitality workers’ union and represents members in the hotel, food service and airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.
Day 6: “Fast for Our Jobs” Continues at BC Legislature
Province says no decision on protecting laid-off workers before Aug. 20
More to join fast and relieve outgoing hunger strikers
Victoria, B.C. – Although the legislative summer session concluded yesterday, hotel workers continue to wage their hunger strike for the right of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers to return to their pre-COVID jobs. Minister of Labour Harry Bains announced in a press conference late this week that no decision will be made regarding recall protections until a provincial review of the issue concludes in six days.
Hotel workers awaiting a decision from the government will continue the open-ended hunger strike. Two of the fasters who began their hunger strike on Monday were advised by a medic to end their fast due to health concerns. More hotel workers will arrive to take their place on Saturday and will fast throughout the week in Victoria.
“Fasting was not an easy decision to make. It takes a toll on our bodies, but I chose to make the sacrifice because I want to send a message to the province about how the pandemic is affecting 50,000 laid-off hotel workers. If the province gives the hotel industry the $680 million they’re asking for, the province should also help workers get our jobs back,” said Naden Abenes, a laid-off room attendant from the Hyatt Regency Vancouver who concluded her fast Friday.
Since launching the hunger strike on August 10, fasters have engaged in a series of actions including a car caravan demonstration encircling the BC Legislature, daily serenading and leafletting of elected officials, and meetings with MLAs. Fasters received visits by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Victoria MP Laurel Collins who shared words of support for the hotel workers, as well as from Green Party leadership candidate, Dimitri Lascaris. Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson held a public fast outside the office of a Vancouver NDP MLA on Wednesday.
As the legislative session wound up on Friday, fasters and community members presented a representative of Minister Bain’s office with a petition signed by hundreds of supporters urging the province enact a legal right for workers to return to their jobs as the industry recovers. The lack of protection for those laid-off due to the pandemic prompted laid-off hotel workers to launch the hunger strike. The province has appointed a lawyer to review the matter and is expected to issue a report by August 20.
###
Contact: Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9786; or Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356
Day 5 of #Fast4OurJobs: Fasters receive impromptu visit by NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh, Victoria MP Laurel Collins
For Immediate Release – August 13, 2020
Victoria, BC – Fasting hotel workers welcomed two prominent visitors to their encampment at the BC Legislature yesterday – NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and Victoria MP Laurel Collins. The MPs stopped by to share words of encouragement and support with the fasters on the fourth day of their hunger strike. The workers launched a “Fast for Our Jobs” on Monday urging the province to enact a legal right for hard-hit hotel workers to eventually return to their jobs.
Singh and Collins gathered with the fasters in an impromptu meeting at the fasters’ tent. Singh told the group of laid-off hotel workers: “We think about you all the time. It is going to be a while before tourism, hotels and all the workers get back to work. There needs to be some sort of support in place for these [workers]. It is a very serious challenge, and we are going to be there with you every step of the way.”
The fasters applauded the messages from the MPs and expressed their hope that the province will act urgently.
“I’m really glad NDP leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Collins came by to talk to fasters about the situation we’re facing. They gave us moral support. That’s so important right now because time is running out. We hope the government will do the right thing. After fasting for four days, we want an answer from the province. We need to know if we’ll have the right to be recalled to our jobs,” said Naden Abenes, a laid-off room attendant from the Hyatt Regency Vancouver.
Singh and Collins join a growing group of elected officials, community and faith leaders who have expressed their support for the fasting hotel workers. Victoria City Councillor Sharmarke Dubow visited with the fasters earlier this week; Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson held a public fast outside the office of a Vancouver NDP MLA on Wednesday.
###
Contacts: Stephanie Fung, sfung@local40union.com, 604-928-7356; or
Michelle Travis, mtravis@unitehere.org, 778-960-9785