BC Labor Board rules against Holiday Inn Downtown over failure to bargain in good faith
Vancouver, BC – In a new ruling, the British Columbia Labor Relations Board
(BCLRB) has found that the Holiday Inn & Suites Vancouver Downtown failed to
bargain in good faith with UNITE HERE Local 40, violating Section 11 of the BC
Labour Relations Code.
The ruling comes after repeated attempts by the Union to initiate bargaining following
the expiration of the collective agreement on May 31, 2024. Despite the last
negotiations meeting in July 2024 and multiple requests from the Union in August
offering six available dates for negotiations, Holiday Inn failed to respond, prompting
the Union to file an application with the Labor Board.
The Board directed the employer to immediately provide available dates for
collective bargaining and to post a copy of the decision in the workplace for all
bargaining unit members to see.
The Board’s decision highlights that the employer’s lack of response undermined the
collective bargaining process and the Union’s support within the bargaining unit. The
Board ruled that the employer’s actions violated Section 11 of the BC Labour
Relations Code and ordered the employer to cease and desist from further
violations.
UNITE HERE Local 40 filed similar applications against five other downtown hotels:
the Holiday Inn on Broadway, Days Inn, Blue Horizon Hotel, The Burrard Hotel, and
the St. Regis Hotel. The Board ruled that those employers also violated Section 11 of
the Code.
“This ruling is a victory for our members, who have been waiting for the employer
to come to the table and bargain in good faith,” said Zailda Chan, President of
UNITE HERE Local 40. “We are committed to securing fair and equitable contracts
for our members, and this decision ensures that the employer cannot continue to
delay negotiations.”
The Labor Board instructed the employer to provide bargaining dates by the close of
business on October 7, 2024. The Board’s decision must also be displayed
prominently in the workplace to ensure all employees are informed of the ruling.
Media Contact: Michelle Travis, [email protected], 778-960-9785
UNITE HERE Local 40 is a labor union representing workers in the hotel, food service, and
airport industries throughout British Columbia. Learn more at UniteHereLocal40.org.