Imagine if a business could set its own property tax rate, develop land without having to obtain local approvals and could operate without having to answer to our elected officials. Would we want a business like this in our community? Well, look no further than our own Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR).
Some years back, the federal government partially privatized operations of major Canadian airports, including YVR and Victoria International Airport. The government granted airport authorities with many powers but little oversight and accountability over how they operate.
Today, the federal government is reviewing whether to fully privatize airports. YVR says this would threaten local control and community input. Yet, YVR doesn’t listen to our community now! YVR can self-assess the taxes they pay to the City of Richmond, raise airport user fees at will, carry out land development projects without local approvals, and turn a deaf ear to workers’ concerns. If airport authorities aren’t accountable to our elected officials, how accountable are they going be to low-wage airport workers?
UNITE HERE Canada presents at House Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultation in Vancouver.
We think it is time to change the way airport authorities work with our communities. We don’t want privatization and we don’t want the status quo.
In October, UNITE HERE Canada appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to call for federal reform of airport governance and made several recommendations to make airport authorities more accountable to workers and to our cities. We want real accountability from YVR and other major airport authorities so that they contribute their fair share, coordinate with our local municipalities, and engage meaningfully with airport workers.
Local 40 Election Update
Notices: Local 40 Election Hotline & Notice of Nominations and Election
Join Us! HMSHost Local 40 members to call for $15 minimum wage
What: Fair Wages Commission
When: Thursday, November 23, 2017
Time: 5:00 PM
Where: Hyatt Regency, 655 Burrard Street
This Thursday, the Commission will be coming to Vancouver and Local 40 members will be there!
YVR airport members from HMS Host will tell the panel how urgently we need to raise the minimum wage to $15 an hour so that more working people can make ends meet and support their families.
We want the public to know that there is no place for minimum wage jobs at YVR or any workplace in BC. The price of housing, gas, food and other necessities keeps going up, but starting wages are too low to keep pace.
Join us this Thursday to support your co-workers from HMSHost! Send a note to [email protected] and let us know you’ll be there.
We want to send a strong message to the provincial government that the time to increase the minimum wage to $15 is now!
Notice: Elections for all leadership positions at Local 40
UNITE HERE Canada tells House Committee: airport authorities need reform
Imagine if a business could set its own property tax rate, develop land without having to obtain local approvals and could operate without having to answer to our elected officials. Would we want a business like this in our community? Well, look no further than our own Vancouver Airport Authority (YVR).
Some years back, the federal government partially privatized operations of major Canadian airports, including YVR and Victoria International Airport. The government granted airport authorities with many powers but little oversight and accountability over how they operate.
Today, the federal government is reviewing whether to fully privatize airports. YVR says this would threaten local control and community input. Yet, YVR doesn’t listen to our community now! YVR can self-assess the taxes they pay to the City of Richmond, raise airport user fees at will, carry out land development projects without local approvals, and turn a deaf ear to workers’ concerns. If airport authorities aren’t accountable to our elected officials, how accountable are they going be to low-wage airport workers?
UNITE HERE Canada presents at House Finance Committee’s pre-budget consultation in Vancouver.
We think it is time to change the way airport authorities work with our communities. We don’t want privatization and we don’t want the status quo.
In October, UNITE HERE Canada appeared before the House of Commons Standing Committee on Finance to call for federal reform of airport governance and made several recommendations to make airport authorities more accountable to workers and to our cities. We want real accountability from YVR and other major airport authorities so that they contribute their fair share, coordinate with our local municipalities, and engage meaningfully with airport workers.