More than 400 workers at one of Vancouver's best-known hotels will vote this week on whether to authorize a strike. Unifor Local 114 members — 445 housekeeping and food-and-beverage workers at the Fairmont Hotel Vancouver — cast ballots October 6 and 7 on a strike mandate, the union announced Monday.
The union says bargaining has stalled because the employer won't budge on wages, benefits, vacation time, or employee travel benefits for banquet staff. Unifor National President Lana Payne said the workers deliver world-class service and deserve a contract that reflects it, arguing a strong vote sends the employer a message to bargain seriously.
Unifor Western Director Gavin McGarrigle noted that Vancouver's tourism economy runs on hotel workers and said the employer could avoid any disruption by returning to the table with a fair offer. A strong mandate vote would give the bargaining committee the authority to call a strike if talks collapse.
