Prince George, BC – On Friday, UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Ramada Prince George voted to ratify a new collective agreement. Workers voted 100% in favour of the contract, securing significant wage gains to meet the rising cost of living.
In their new four-year agreement, workers bargained a $2 wage increase starting June 1, 2023, and a total wage increase of 16.5 – 19.5% over the next 2 years for Front Desk Agents, Room Attendants and Baristas. Other highlights of the new contract include improved retirement benefits, with the hotel contributing 45% more to the workers’ retirement plan by 2025, and new Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee language which will allow management and workers to collaboratively address health and safety issues at the hotel.
Ramada Prince George workers put themselves on the frontlines and maintained high standards for guests during the pandemic. They are pleased to now reach an agreement with management that provides them with sustainable, family-supporting jobs in Prince George.
“We’ve needed this change for a long time and are happy with this hard-fought outcome. It’s been an honour working with the Union to achieve our new contract. By my co-workers and I standing united, we can now look forward to our future at this hotel,” said Monisa Boudreau, a housekeeper at Ramada Prince George.
The contract win for Ramada Prince George workers averts a strike and ensures they will continue to provide their service to guests. Workers issued 72-hour strike notice on May 29 after months at the bargaining table.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2023-06-05 13:50:172023-06-05 13:51:15Press Release: Ramada Prince George Workers ratify new contract, avert strike
The organizer for the YVR Airport Justice Organizer will be recruiting and training a worker committee to stand up for airport concessions workers through worker actions, political and community organizing. Organizers work with members and unorganized workers to build the leadership and solidarity necessary to build a progressive and strong labour union. The successful applicant we are looking for is driven, courageous, open to feedback, hard working, and a fighter with a deep commitment to social change.
JobDuties:
Plan, develop, implement, and evaluate union recruitment strategies including policies, programs, and procedures.
Ensure union is advised of developments, potential obstacles, and other relevant activities.
Develop and establish member training material and sessions.
Organize and participate in meetings and demonstrations.
Promote rank and file leadership development.
Identify and meet with worker leaders to recruit and train them as union leaders for their particular workplace campaign, in union and non-union settings.
Identify workplace issues, learn the relevant collective agreement language, and pursue resolution through the grievance and arbitration procedures.
Frequently attend multiple distant locations within a short time span in order to meet with workers at their homes and other sites. Many of these locations will not be easily accessible by public transit.
JobRequirements:
1 year of experience as a labour/union organizer, rank and file union activist, and/or experience working with the student, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and/or environmental activist communities.
Contact: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume outlining relevant experience and including references to [email protected]. Only candidates meeting all requirements will be contacted for interviews.
Richmond, BC — Pacific Gateway (now Radisson Blu) hotel workers will hold a rally this Thursday to commemorate two years of being on strike. This is the longest hotel strike in B.C. history. Workers have been on the picket line daily since May 2021 to fight back against management’s pandemic terminations and attempts to rollback wages and benefits.
During the pandemic, the hotel terminated 143 long-term staff, mostly women and people of colour, while it was used as a federal quarantine site. The owner, an affiliate PHI Hotel Group, refused to recall staff as business recovered as other local hotels have done. The federal government left the hotel in 2022 after workers urged them to move. The hotel has been rebranded under a new name – Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport.
The BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress have issued a boycott of the hotel until the owner agrees to rehire workers and settles a fair contract. The City of Richmond has resolved not to support events or promote business with the hotel until a resolution is reached with the workers.
WHO: Striking hotel workers and community allies from across the lower mainland.
WHERE: 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond BC
WHEN: Thursday, May 25 at 5:00 P.M.
VISUALS: Hotel workers and community allies chanting, marching, and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns. Striking hotel workers and UNITE HERE Local 40 representatives will be made available for interviews in English, Punjabi and Mandarin.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2023-05-23 10:58:352023-05-23 10:59:35Media Advisory: Richmond Hotel Workers to Hold Mass Rally to Mark 2-Year Strike
Victoria, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Inn at Laurel Point have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement last night. Workers voted 98% in favour of the contract, securing significant wage gains to meet the rising cost of living in Victoria. Workers bargained a wage increase of 20% or more from June 2022 – February 2026. By the end of the new contract, Cooks will earn 25% more in wages over the previous agreement, while Room Attendants will earn 26% more.
Under the new contract, the tipped workers achieved improvements to protecting their gratuities. These new protections give servers, bartenders, banquet staff, room attendants and bellstaff the right to review records to ensure management correctly pays automatic charges and credit/debit card tips and it prohibits management creating tip pools. Front Desk staff won unprecedented protections of their sales commissions.
“Getting the contract we want means that I am better able to support my family. The team here at Laurel Point – the housekeepers, front desk agents, banquet workers, restaurant servers, kitchen staff and other departments – are what keeps this place an amazing place to work and stay. I’m very proud that we all stuck together to attain a living wage, given Victoria’s high rate of inflation. I hope this inspires other unions and workers to demand what is fair and just for them as well,” said Aaron Walters, a server at Inn at Laurel Point’s Aura Restaurant
The contract win for Inn at Laurel Point workers averts a strike and ensures they will continue to provide four-star service to guests during the busy tourist season. Workers had issued 72-hour strike notice on April 27 after months at the bargaining table.
“The workers are happy and relieved to come to an agreement. We were fortunate to have a strong group of organizers and committee to achieve this fair result,” said Harj Aheer, front desk agent at the Inn.
http://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.png00Michelle Travishttp://www.uniteherelocal40.org/wp-content/uploads/local40logo-300x155.pngMichelle Travis2023-05-11 08:51:522023-05-11 08:52:15Press Release: Inn at Laurel Point Workers avert strike, increase their wages by 20% or more
UNITE HERE Local 40 is seeking a full-time Office Manager to manage its administrative and operational functions.
UNITE HERE Local 40 is B.C.’s hospitality workers’ union and is leading the fight to organize the unorganized and at the forefront of campaigns for workers’ rights. Our members are housekeepers, bellmen, food servers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders and many other employees in the tourism and food service industries. Local 40 has a proud history of community involvement and a strong commitment to improving working conditions, wages, and benefits for all workers.
This is a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidate is reliable, quick to learn, well-organized, attentive to detail, and capable of juggling multiple responsibilities.
Job Responsibilities (include but not limited to the following):
Oversee and coordinate office administrative procedures.
Complete multiple responsibilities on a daily basis
Written and verbal communications with members, staff, and employers
Organize and schedule appointments/meetings
Assistance with coordinating special events and projects
Book travel arrangements
Submit and reconcile expense reports
Answering incoming telephone calls and retrieving daily messages
Maintain filing system
Assist in the preparation of operating budget and maintain inventory and budgetary controls
prepare periodic and special reports, manuals and correspondence
Order office supplies, obtain quotes, and coordinate with suppliers
Compile reports and prepare spreadsheets
Provide payroll information by collecting time and attendance records.
Assist with financials and streamline processes efficiently in a busy and fast-paced environment
Welcome newly hired employees to the organization by conducting orientations
Assist in overseeing daily office operations
Other duties as assigned by union leadership
Job Requirements/Qualifications: The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
2 to 3 years experience in related field
Passionate belief in the importance of trade unions and desire to contribute to the labour movement’s effort to create a more just and equitable society
Exceptional interpersonal and communication skills, with ability to engage effectively and tactfully with members, staff, and employers
Effective written and verbal communication skills with strong attention to detail
Knowledge of office management systems, policies, and procedures
Proficiency in Microsoft Office (e.g. Work and Excel); G Suite applications including Google Docs, Google Sheets and other applications; Mac & PC
Demonstrated excellent organizational skills and high capacity for attention to detail
Strong ability and comfort level with variety of technologies, including office equipment, telephones, smart phones, laptops, fax machines, and copiers.
Proficient data entry skills
Excellent time management skills and the ability to prioritize work
Ability to work independently within the context of a plan
Good interpersonal and communication skills; must work well with others
Must be able to maneuver effectively through Excel using formulas, properly and accurately manage staff expense reimbursements, and have basic knowledge of employee provincial/federal laws
Bookkeeping/accounting experience is preferable but not required.
Familiarity with QuickBooks a plus.
Salary range from $60,000 to $70,000/year depending on experience.
This is not a remote or hybrid position.
Please submit a resume and references, along with a cover letter, to Michelle Travis at [email protected] with “Office Manager Application” in the subject line. Please include your available start date in the cover letter. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.
Press Release: Ramada Prince George Workers ratify new contract, avert strike
Workers win immediate wage increases, improve retirement benefits
Prince George, BC – On Friday, UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Ramada Prince George voted to ratify a new collective agreement. Workers voted 100% in favour of the contract, securing significant wage gains to meet the rising cost of living.
In their new four-year agreement, workers bargained a $2 wage increase starting June 1, 2023, and a total wage increase of 16.5 – 19.5% over the next 2 years for Front Desk Agents, Room Attendants and Baristas. Other highlights of the new contract include improved retirement benefits, with the hotel contributing 45% more to the workers’ retirement plan by 2025, and new Joint Occupational Health and Safety Committee language which will allow management and workers to collaboratively address health and safety issues at the hotel.
Ramada Prince George workers put themselves on the frontlines and maintained high standards for guests during the pandemic. They are pleased to now reach an agreement with management that provides them with sustainable, family-supporting jobs in Prince George.
“We’ve needed this change for a long time and are happy with this hard-fought outcome. It’s been an honour working with the Union to achieve our new contract. By my co-workers and I standing united, we can now look forward to our future at this hotel,” said Monisa Boudreau, a housekeeper at Ramada Prince George.
The contract win for Ramada Prince George workers averts a strike and ensures they will continue to provide their service to guests. Workers issued 72-hour strike notice on May 29 after months at the bargaining table.
Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, [email protected]
Job Posting: YVR Airport Justice Organizer
The organizer for the YVR Airport Justice Organizer will be recruiting and training a worker committee to stand up for airport concessions workers through worker actions, political and community organizing. Organizers work with members and unorganized workers to build the leadership and solidarity necessary to build a progressive and strong labour union. The successful applicant we are looking for is driven, courageous, open to feedback, hard working, and a fighter with a deep commitment to social change.
Job Duties:
Job Requirements:
1 year of experience as a labour/union organizer, rank and file union activist, and/or experience working with the student, immigrant, LGBTQ+, and/or environmental activist communities.
Contact: Interested applicants should submit a cover letter and resume outlining relevant experience and including references to [email protected]. Only candidates meeting all requirements will be contacted for interviews.
Media Advisory: Richmond Hotel Workers to Hold Mass Rally to Mark 2-Year Strike
Demonstration to be held Thursday, May 25, at 5PM
Richmond, BC — Pacific Gateway (now Radisson Blu) hotel workers will hold a rally this Thursday to commemorate two years of being on strike. This is the longest hotel strike in B.C. history. Workers have been on the picket line daily since May 2021 to fight back against management’s pandemic terminations and attempts to rollback wages and benefits.
During the pandemic, the hotel terminated 143 long-term staff, mostly women and people of colour, while it was used as a federal quarantine site. The owner, an affiliate PHI Hotel Group, refused to recall staff as business recovered as other local hotels have done. The federal government left the hotel in 2022 after workers urged them to move. The hotel has been rebranded under a new name – Radisson Blu Vancouver Airport.
The BC Federation of Labour and the Canadian Labour Congress have issued a boycott of the hotel until the owner agrees to rehire workers and settles a fair contract. The City of Richmond has resolved not to support events or promote business with the hotel until a resolution is reached with the workers.
WHO: Striking hotel workers and community allies from across the lower mainland.
WHERE: 3500 Cessna Drive, Richmond BC
WHEN: Thursday, May 25 at 5:00 P.M.
VISUALS: Hotel workers and community allies chanting, marching, and speaking with colourful banners, signs, and bullhorns. Striking hotel workers and UNITE HERE Local 40 representatives will be made available for interviews in English, Punjabi and Mandarin.
Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, [email protected]
Press Release: Inn at Laurel Point Workers avert strike, increase their wages by 20% or more
Victoria, BC – UNITE HERE Local 40 members at the Inn at Laurel Point have voted overwhelmingly to ratify a new collective agreement last night. Workers voted 98% in favour of the contract, securing significant wage gains to meet the rising cost of living in Victoria. Workers bargained a wage increase of 20% or more from June 2022 – February 2026. By the end of the new contract, Cooks will earn 25% more in wages over the previous agreement, while Room Attendants will earn 26% more.
Under the new contract, the tipped workers achieved improvements to protecting their gratuities. These new protections give servers, bartenders, banquet staff, room attendants and bellstaff the right to review records to ensure management correctly pays automatic charges and credit/debit card tips and it prohibits management creating tip pools. Front Desk staff won unprecedented protections of their sales commissions.
“Getting the contract we want means that I am better able to support my family. The team here at Laurel Point – the housekeepers, front desk agents, banquet workers, restaurant servers, kitchen staff and other departments – are what keeps this place an amazing place to work and stay. I’m very proud that we all stuck together to attain a living wage, given Victoria’s high rate of inflation. I hope this inspires other unions and workers to demand what is fair and just for them as well,” said Aaron Walters, a server at Inn at Laurel Point’s Aura Restaurant
The contract win for Inn at Laurel Point workers averts a strike and ensures they will continue to provide four-star service to guests during the busy tourist season. Workers had issued 72-hour strike notice on April 27 after months at the bargaining table.
“The workers are happy and relieved to come to an agreement. We were fortunate to have a strong group of organizers and committee to achieve this fair result,” said Harj Aheer, front desk agent at the Inn.
Media Contact: Sharan Pawa, 604-710-1693, [email protected]
Job Posting: Office Manager (Vancouver, BC)
UNITE HERE Local 40 is seeking a full-time Office Manager to manage its administrative and operational functions.
UNITE HERE Local 40 is B.C.’s hospitality workers’ union and is leading the fight to organize the unorganized and at the forefront of campaigns for workers’ rights. Our members are housekeepers, bellmen, food servers, cooks, dishwashers, bartenders and many other employees in the tourism and food service industries. Local 40 has a proud history of community involvement and a strong commitment to improving working conditions, wages, and benefits for all workers.
This is a fast-paced work environment. The ideal candidate is reliable, quick to learn, well-organized, attentive to detail, and capable of juggling multiple responsibilities.
Job Responsibilities (include but not limited to the following):
Job Requirements/Qualifications: The requirements listed below represent the knowledge, skill, and/or ability required.
Salary range from $60,000 to $70,000/year depending on experience.
This is not a remote or hybrid position.
Please submit a resume and references, along with a cover letter, to Michelle Travis at [email protected] with “Office Manager Application” in the subject line. Please include your available start date in the cover letter. Only short-listed applicants will be contacted.