VANCOUVER – University of British Columbia students delivered a petition today demanding the Sauder Centre for Social Innovation cut its ties with a board member over his company’s treatment of its workers.
Representatives of UBC’s Social Justice Centre say actions by the Vancouver-based Larco hotel chain hurt the Sauder centre’s reputation for creating social and economic good. The students say Larco CEO Amin Lalji shouldn’t be involved in the Sauder Centre for Social Innovation & Impact Investing.
“We feel, as students, that we have to keep UBC accountable to its promises of social responsibility,” said Social Justice Centre member Eviatar Bach, adding “we can’t let the university become a tool for boosting the reputation of donors we feel are engaged in unethical behavior.”
Representatives from the Social Justice Centre were joined by Larco hotel workers. Unite Here, the union representing the workers, says its members are fighting an uphill battle for respect and fair treatment.
In Toronto, Unite Here Local 75 members at the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel recently filed an Unfair Labour Practice against the company for interference in a union organizing drive. Unite Here Local 40 President Robert Demand said, “Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel are increasingly squeezed by higher workloads while earning significantly lower wages than workers at comparable local hotels.”
“As a housekeeper I work very hard, my job carries a high risk of injury, and many of my co-workers work in pain every day, said Sheraton housekeeper Jean Harvey. “We deserve to be heard, but I don’t believe Mr. Lalji is listening to us, or treating us with respect.” Harvey joined the delegation presenting the petition at UBC today.
Demand said the union appreciates the interest and support from UBC students and hopes the petition alerts the Sauder centre to the seriousness of the situation.
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CONTACTS:
UBC Social Justice Centre: Eviatar Bach, 604-727-6117, [email protected]
Unite Here Local 40: Octavian Cadabeschi, 604-813-2105, [email protected]
The UBC Social Justice Centre aims to serve any and all students interested in finding progressive solutions to societal and global injustice. UNITE HERE Local 40 is the union for hospitality workers in British Columbia.
Local 40 members ratify contract with HIR representing 45 employers
Negotiations concluded on December 9th when HIR employers finally agreed to retroactive wage increases for all properties. Local 40 members at the largest hotels in Vancouver, Victoria and Harrison only agreed to settle if all smaller properties in communities across BC also received retroactive pay.
“It’s great to have been part of this huge victory. Not only did we get a fair contract, but we learned a lesson: no matter how small we may look, we become stronger when we’re united,” said Claudia Hernandez, room attendant at the Burrard Hotel.
Local 40 addressed not only benefits and wages but engaged employers in a discussion of important workplace issues, such as: guaranteeing year around access to vacations and proper scheduling by seniority at the Harrison Hot Springs Resort, wage adjustments after renovations at hotels like the Burrard and St. Regis, and addressing the impact of the upcoming closure at the Empire Landmark Hotel.
Workers at many HIR properties organized workplace actions to win their demands.
“I feel proud of this contract. We fought very hard for 6 months, and in the end, we won our best raises ever and full retro pay,” said Kulwinder Randhawa, room attendant at the Empire Landmark Hotel.
Notice regarding dues receipts (T4’s) & medical benefits (T4A’s)
Union Dues T4’s
Local 40 will be issuing the official Union Dues receipts by the end of February.
It is important to use the official union dues receipt provided to you from the Union. Do not rely on the amount that your employer puts on your T4 as the employer’s amount may include monies that are not tax-deductible (e.g. initiation and reinstatement fees.)
Medical Benefit T4A’s
The T4A represents the taxable medical benefit paid through your employer. Morneau Shepell (the Fund) will be mailing your T4A by the end of February.
To guarantee that you receive both T4’s, please make sure that both Local 40 and the Health Care Fund/Member Service Centre have your correct address.
For any further questions, please contact:
Local 40 Union Dues Department: 604-473-4825 or 604-473-4824
Local 40 Member Service Centre: 604-294-4441 (#202-411 Dunsmuir St., Vancouver · www.myhealthandpension.hroffice.com)
Join Local 40 at the Women’s March!
March with UNITE HERE Local 40 at the Vancouver’s Women’s March on Washington this Saturday January 21st.
UNITE HERE has a long history of fighting on issues that matter to women, and we are proud to participate in this march!
Local 40 members and community allies are invited to join our contingent.
We gather at 9:30 am at Thurlow and Canada Place.
Workers Stage 12-Hour Protest at Sheraton Van Airport Hotel
WHAT: 12-hour protest by workers from the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel and other area-hotels. Starts with 7am Wake-Up action, choir performance at 1pm, and ends with an afternoon rally at 5pm.
WHO: Hospitality members of UNITE HERE Local 40, MLA Mabel Elmore, MLA Shane Simpson, community supporters representing the Kairos Network, UBC Social Justice Centre and the Labour Chorus.
WHERE: Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, 7551 Westminster Hwy, Richmond
WHEN: Thursday, December 1, 2016; 7am– 7pm
BACKGROUND:
RICHMOND – Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport say the high-end hotel has to stop paying low-end wages. The 180 unionized housekeepers, front desk staff, bellhops and cooks will rally outside the hotel for 12 hours Thursday starting with a Wake-Up noise demonstration at 7am. Workers are seeking wage and workload parity with comparable hotels in the area that pay about $4 more per hour.
The call for a fair wage adjustment during current contact talks comes during unparalleled growth in the hotel industry. Vancouver’s hotels are enjoying record profits with revenues expected to continue growing in 2017.
Sheraton’s workers earn an average of $8,000 a year less than workers at similar high-end hotels. Hotel workers, mostly immigrants and mostly women, are speaking out against disrespectful treatment and the economic impact of being left behind. They want owner Larco Hospitality to improve standards and workload safety at the hotel and bargain directly with the union. Little progress has been made in negotiations so far. Contact talks are scheduled to resume on Friday.
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UBC petition calls for Sauder centre to turf board member
VANCOUVER – University of British Columbia students delivered a petition today demanding the Sauder Centre for Social Innovation cut its ties with a board member over his company’s treatment of its workers.
Representatives of UBC’s Social Justice Centre say actions by the Vancouver-based Larco hotel chain hurt the Sauder centre’s reputation for creating social and economic good. The students say Larco CEO Amin Lalji shouldn’t be involved in the Sauder Centre for Social Innovation & Impact Investing.
“We feel, as students, that we have to keep UBC accountable to its promises of social responsibility,” said Social Justice Centre member Eviatar Bach, adding “we can’t let the university become a tool for boosting the reputation of donors we feel are engaged in unethical behavior.”
Representatives from the Social Justice Centre were joined by Larco hotel workers. Unite Here, the union representing the workers, says its members are fighting an uphill battle for respect and fair treatment.
In Toronto, Unite Here Local 75 members at the Renaissance Toronto Downtown Hotel recently filed an Unfair Labour Practice against the company for interference in a union organizing drive. Unite Here Local 40 President Robert Demand said, “Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel are increasingly squeezed by higher workloads while earning significantly lower wages than workers at comparable local hotels.”
“As a housekeeper I work very hard, my job carries a high risk of injury, and many of my co-workers work in pain every day, said Sheraton housekeeper Jean Harvey. “We deserve to be heard, but I don’t believe Mr. Lalji is listening to us, or treating us with respect.” Harvey joined the delegation presenting the petition at UBC today.
Demand said the union appreciates the interest and support from UBC students and hopes the petition alerts the Sauder centre to the seriousness of the situation.
-30-
CONTACTS:
UBC Social Justice Centre: Eviatar Bach, 604-727-6117, [email protected]
Unite Here Local 40: Octavian Cadabeschi, 604-813-2105, [email protected]
The UBC Social Justice Centre aims to serve any and all students interested in finding progressive solutions to societal and global injustice. UNITE HERE Local 40 is the union for hospitality workers in British Columbia.