Workers at Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel begin strike: union
Posted June 14, 2023 12:24 pm.
Last Updated June 14, 2023 3:44 pm.
Unionized workers at a hotel near the Vancouver International Airport walked off the job Wednesday morning.
Staff at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond — which includes room attendants, banquet servers, front desk agents, and food service workers — have begun strike action, the Unite Here Local 40 union says.
Read More: Workers at hotel near YVR vote in favour of strike action
According to a news release from the union, workers are striking for improved wages, saying most of the staff earn less than the Metro Vancouver living wage of $24.08 per hour.
“Sheraton Airport workers welcome the world to Vancouver, but they cannot afford to live here,” the union stated. “The hotel’s room rates are selling for as much as $400 a night or more. Room revenues for Vancouver airport hotels increased 32 per cent on average this year over the same period in 2019.”
The union points out that the majority of the striking workers are women and immigrants who struggled throughout the pandemic to make ends meet. A union-conducted survey found that 46 per cent of respondents said they had to forgo fresh food to keep up with the cost of living in the region.
The workers are seeking wage increases comparable to other high-end convention hotels, better transparency around the distribution of tips at banquets, and a guarantee that guest rooms will be cleaned daily.
Last month, workers voted 88 per cent in favour of strike action.
