1,200 hotel workers in UNITE HERE Local 40 won dignity and job security in a battle against global corporations that rule the most luxurious hotels in downtown Vancouver. The two-month strike, the longest in the city’s hotel industry, demonstrated the power of unions when they have determination to win and a fighting strategy. The workers, uniting recent immigrants and Canadian-born, defeated the corporations and their goal to transform full-time positions into precarious part-time or on-call jobs. Workers demanded “One Job is Enough” and “Contracts.”
Given the panorama of precariousness, discrimination and sexual harassment, unionized workers began a year-long strategy of information, education and action that resulted in hotel workers voting overwhelmingly for the strike. Simultaneously, it activated the powerful solidarity of workers. Unions such as BCGEU, the Labour Council and BC Federation of Labour, Vancouver’s left party COPE, the NDP, Vancouver Tenants’ Union, Socialist Alternative and social organizations all supported the strike. From September to November, workers and supporters held daily 12-hour pickets, held loud and lively demonstrations in front of the luxury hotels, and got organizations to cancel bookings. Union members took the struggle to other cities in the US, protesting at other hotels in the Rosewood group and gaining support. All this was vital for victory.
Workers at the Hyatt Regency, FourSeasons, Pinnacle Harbourfront and Westin Bayshore won in October. The Rosewood Georgia, Canada’s top luxury hotel, took another month to concede. The new agreements include wage increases up to 25%, workload reductions, improvements in benefits, innovative sexual harassment protection, workplace safety reforms and job protection. Tessie, a Pinnacle hotel worker and committee leader said: “Union is not only an insurance, but also it is similar to a gym; you must pay dues, but you have to go and exercise to become strong.” Socialist Alternative was proud to actively support hotel workers as part of the fight for workers’ rights.
