Richmond hotel workers end 14-month strike, secure 30 per cent wage increase

After a 14-month-long strike, workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel in Richmond have ratified a new agreement that they say secures living wages and stronger economic security.

In a release Monday, the Unite Here Local 40 union says the strike came to an end along with the boycott of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel, and its sister hotels, Hilton Vancouver Airport and Vancouver Airport Marriott.

Striking workers have secured a 30.5 per cent increase for all Sheraton employees. The staff will be earning a living wage as they return to work and have secured meaningful wage increases to keep up with the rising cost of living.

Over 85 per cent of members voted in favour of the new agreement that ends in 2027.

This comes after workers including room attendants, banquet servers, front desk agents, and food service workers, walked off the job on June 14, 2023.

According to a news release from the union last year, workers were striking for improved wages, saying most of the staff earned less than the Metro Vancouver living wage of $24.08 per hour at the time.

“This is amazing. I’ll earn $26 an hour when I go back to work and will make over $30 an hour at the end of this contract. We feel really good about what we achieved. The strike was difficult, and it took a long time to get here, but we are so proud of what we were able to win together. We love our hotel and are excited to welcome our guests back to the Sheraton,” said Ana Wong, a room attendant with 32 years on the job.

Last year, the union pointed out that the majority of the striking workers were women and immigrants who struggled throughout the COVID-19 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 union says the new agreement provides for return-to-work bonuses and increased gratuities as well as transparency and other top protections. The contract also provides new health benefits for workers.

“We knew we had to fight and work hard for a new contract, and we stuck together. The company now has a better understanding of what the needs are for our jobs, and we feel good about moving forward together,” said Russell Jamieson, a shuttle driver who has worked at the hotel for 42 years.

—With files from Greg Bowman.