Newly ratified contract for Hilton Metrotown Workers

New agreement maintains top hotel standard in Vancouver.

Burnaby, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 members at Hilton Metrotown ratified their new union contract with a 96% YES vote!  The agreement increases economics by $1.45 over the next two years, preserves hard-fought Room Attendant workload standards, and enhances job security language.

Hilton Bargaining Committe, April 27, 2016

Hilton Bargaining Committee, April 27, 2016

Workers faced a tough round of bargaining, but with the support of union customers and elected officials, along with actions in the streets and in the workplace, Hilton workers sent a strong message to the company that we will stand up for decent standards.

“We are so happy that we were able to keep our workload the same.  Housekeeping is very hard work, and we fought very hard to keep our standard.  Thank you to all of the Unions and politicians that supported us in this struggle,” said Delia Labrador, a Room Attendant who has worked at the Hilton for 16 years.

Among the many union customers who showed their support for Hilton workers were BCGEU, HEU, PSAC, CUPE, MoveUP, Steelworkers and Telecommunications Workers, HSA, and the BC Federation of Labour.

The Hilton bargaining committee worked with hotel management to negotiate an agreement that acknowledged difficult economic conditions at the hotel, while avoiding concessions.  The Hilton withdrew its demands to increase workload for Room Attendants and to eliminate severance pay.

The new contract provides enhanced job security language to protect workers’ jobs, seniority, wages and benefits in the event of a sale, subcontracting or leasing in the workplace.

“I’m so glad we were able to win new job security protections.  It gives us the peace of mind we need to provide quality service to the guests,” said long-term employee, Sergio Moyer, Front Desk Supervisor.

The new contract will expire in 2018.  The Hilton workers will join other Metro Vancouver hotel workers from the Hyatt Vancouver, Westin Bayshore, Pinnacle Harbourfront, Four Seasons, Hotel Georgia and Pacific Gateway, who will all bargain in 2018.

 

Arbitrator Rules in Favor of UNITE HERE Local 40 at Nanaimo Golf Club

Binding settlement brings labour dispute to an end.

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Nanaimo billboard co-sponsored by Nanaimo-Duncan & District Labour Council and Local 40.

The longstanding labour dispute between the Nanaimo Golf Club and food and beverage workers ended with an arbitrator ruling in favor of the workers on April 26th.

Contract negotiations broke down April 24, 2015 when Club management locked out two dozen Clubhouse workers, all members of UNITE HERE Local 40.  After 11 months, the Club acceded to Union demands to allow workers to return to work this March and agreed to go to binding arbitration.

The Arbitrator’s binding decision awarded a 2% wage hike in 2016 and 2017 and a lump sum payment to the workers.  The arbitrator’s decision vindicates the union’s position and blocked the Club’s attempt to gain concessions.

Club management locked out workers to force them to accept a number of concessions, such as lowering wages for new hires, having bargaining unit work performed by non-union employees, and restricting union members right to file charges against workers crossing a picket line.

“The arbitrator’s ruling proves what we were asking for was fair and reasonable. I hope others now see that too,” said Kayla Werezak, a returning server.

Bryce Eldred, another returning worker, is glad to be back on the job. “This is a big win.  Good union jobs are hard to find in Nanaimo, and I’m glad to have one here,” said Eldred.

Now that workers have returned to work and have a new contract, UNITE HERE Local 40 encourages golfers and the general public to once again patronize the Nanaimo Golf Club greens, dining room and catering facilities.

 

Work It! March with UNITE HERE at Pride 2015!

Join our campaign to end job discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity and expression! March with UNITE HERE Local 40 at Vancouver Pride on Sunday, August 2. We will gather on the north side of Alberni St between Thurlow and Burrard at 11:45am. Come join us and #WorkIt
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Tourism workers take over Burrard SkyTrain station to celebrate transit pass victory

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Hundreds of tourism workers and their supporters celebrated the new transit pass discount for 8 Vancouver hotels with a party in front of the Burrard Skytrain Station on Thursday afternoon. The festivities featured food, drink and a giant petition to Vancouver’s mayor and city council asking the City to support an even bigger transit pass discount. Right now, employees at 8 Vancouver hotels receive a 15% discount on their transit passes.  Our goal is an even better transit pass discount for everyone working in the Vancouver tourism industry.

On Thursday afternoon, hundreds of tourism workers signed the giant petition to the City and nearly 100 hotel workers used their cell phones to call Vancouver Mayor, Gregor Robertson, asking the City for an even better transit pass.

All tourism workers in Vancouver deserve an affordable way to get to work. For more information on the transit pass campaign or to learn how you can get involved, sign up for our email list here or call UNITE HERE Local 40 at 604-473-4809.

Join us this Thursday for an even better Transit Pass Discount!

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Come join us this Thursday, July 9th from 4:30 to 6:00pm at Burrard Skytrain Station as we celebrate winning a discount transit pass for hotel workers in 8 Vancouver hotels. We will be celebrating our victory and asking the city to increase the discount.

We are asking for a transit discount for ALL Vancouver tourism workers. We work hard to welcome guests to our city. Right now, Vancouver City Council is discussing whether to increase our transit pass discount. We need to make sure our voices will be heard!

This Thursday, July 9 at Burrard Skytrain Station we will be signing a petition asking City Council to increase our transit discount. We will also be calling the Mayor, Gregor Robertson. The first 100 people to call the Mayor will get a free one-zone skytrain ticket on Thursday!

Join us anytime from 4:30pm to 6:00pm this Thursday at Burrard Station. See you there!