Hyatt workers across North America marched, rallied and protested today to focus attention on Hyatt Corporation’s treatment of its employees. Here in Vancouver, Hyatt workers were joined by Westin Bayshore, Renaissance, Four Seasons, Delta Vancouver Airport and Hilton Metrotown workers who all have expiring contracts this month. Local 40 members from GM Place, Host, Cara, Coast Plaza and many HIR hotels also came out to support. Friends of Local 40–labour unions, community groups and elected officials–also joined in the boisterous rally and march that began at the Hyatt and ended at the Renaissance Hotel. On the steps of the Renaissance, workers from each of the GVHEA hotels spoke out to demand the hotel companies stop squeezing workers and cutting jobs while hotel company profits are increasing. Local 40 members made it loud and clear today: we’re ready to fight!
Thanks to all our friends at HEU, USW, COPE 378, CAW, BCTF, UFCW and CUPE for bringing your colours and spirit to our rally!
00adminhttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngadmin2010-06-09 09:49:282010-06-09 09:49:28500 rally at Hyatt Regency Vancouver
A report in today’s Toronto Star describes the “fake” green initiatives some hotels are employing to cut housekeepers’ jobs. The Sheraton Toronto Centre encourages guests to refuse housekeeping services under its “Green Choice Program,” claiming it will “conserve natural resources” and is better for the environment. In return, the hotel gives the guests who refuse housekeeping services a $5 drinks voucher. Housekeepers like Brigida Ruiz (pictured, right) say they up spending more time, using more energy and more chemicals cleaning rooms that have been left without housekeeping services for several days.
This Friday, hundreds of UNITE HERE Local 75 hotel workers in Toronto are holding a public briefing in city council chambers at Toronto City Hall to kick off city-wide hotel negotiations.
Vancouver hotel workers in the GVHEA contract will also begin bargaining soon. The Hyatt, Westin Bayshore, Renaissance and Four Seasons contract expires on June 30. Delta Vancouver Airport and Hilton Metrotown contracts expire at the same time.
00adminhttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngadmin2010-05-06 09:47:222010-05-06 09:47:22Workers protest “fake” green initiatives at Toronto hotels
2000 hotel workers in BC ratified a new union contract that includes a major victory in housekeeping workload improvements as well as a 6% wage increase, improved dental and vision benefits and a more than 30% increase in employer pension contributions.
Housekeepers played a key leadership role in bargaining the HIR contract. Their workload victory includes contract language that sets a fixed quota of rooms for the first time, and check-out room drop language.
The new HIR contract was ratified by a total of 83% of members in 60 hotels across the province.
Congratulations to all!
(Committee leaders from the Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Holiday Inn Downtown and Chateau Granville (pictured), along with rank and file leaders from many other HIR hotels worked hard to achieve the new contract. More workers participated in this contract campaign than any previous HIR bargaining. The new contract covers 60 hotels across the province.)
00adminhttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngadmin2010-03-13 09:45:262010-03-13 09:45:26HIR hotel workers contract victory!
Coast Hotel workers across BC are celebrating a historic contract victory today. After months of organizing, mobilizing and hard work at the bargaining table, committee leaders in the Coast Bastion Inn-Nanaimo, Coast Harbourside Victoria, Coast Capri-Kelowna and Coast Inn of the North-Prince George can be proud of a new contract ratified by 99% of their co-workers.
Housekeepers won workload relief language for the first time, including a decreased room quota and room drops for traveling between floors. Banquet workers won gratuity protection (”transparency”) language for the first time in the contract.
All Coast workers won a significant wage increase, a 39% pension contribution increase and improved dental and vision benefits. Coast Hotel workers now have the same extended benefits as the downtown Vancouver hotels.
The Coast Master agreement ratified today covers 500 workers in 4 hotels.
Local 40 settled contracts for 3000 workers in 65 hotels and food service operations across British Columbia in the last 2 months.
Congratulations to all who worked so hard for these victories!
00adminhttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngadmin2010-03-13 09:44:352010-03-13 09:44:35Coast Hotel workers in Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George and Victoria ratify new contract by 99%!
500 rally at Hyatt Regency Vancouver
Thanks to all our friends at HEU, USW, COPE 378, CAW, BCTF, UFCW and CUPE for bringing your colours and spirit to our rally!
International Solidarity in Canada’s Capital!
Workers protest “fake” green initiatives at Toronto hotels
See the Toronto Star report for more details on the “fake” green programs.
This Friday, hundreds of UNITE HERE Local 75 hotel workers in Toronto are holding a public briefing in city council chambers at Toronto City Hall to kick off city-wide hotel negotiations.
Vancouver hotel workers in the GVHEA contract will also begin bargaining soon. The Hyatt, Westin Bayshore, Renaissance and Four Seasons contract expires on June 30. Delta Vancouver Airport and Hilton Metrotown contracts expire at the same time.
HIR hotel workers contract victory!
Housekeepers played a key leadership role in bargaining the HIR contract. Their workload victory includes contract language that sets a fixed quota of rooms for the first time, and check-out room drop language.
The new HIR contract was ratified by a total of 83% of members in 60 hotels across the province.
Congratulations to all!
(Committee leaders from the Sheraton Vancouver Airport, Holiday Inn Downtown and Chateau Granville (pictured), along with rank and file leaders from many other HIR hotels worked hard to achieve the new contract. More workers participated in this contract campaign than any previous HIR bargaining. The new contract covers 60 hotels across the province.)
Coast Hotel workers in Kelowna, Nanaimo, Prince George and Victoria ratify new contract by 99%!
Housekeepers won workload relief language for the first time, including a decreased room quota and room drops for traveling between floors. Banquet workers won gratuity protection (”transparency”) language for the first time in the contract.
All Coast workers won a significant wage increase, a 39% pension contribution increase and improved dental and vision benefits. Coast Hotel workers now have the same extended benefits as the downtown Vancouver hotels.
The Coast Master agreement ratified today covers 500 workers in 4 hotels.
Local 40 settled contracts for 3000 workers in 65 hotels and food service operations across British Columbia in the last 2 months.
Congratulations to all who worked so hard for these victories!