VICTORIA — Members of Unifor Local 4276 have given their bargaining committee a strike mandate.
Local 4276 members voted 97 per cent in favour of job action if negotiations don’t produce a satisfactory result. No strike deadline has been set. The union is required to give 72 hours’ notice of job action.
At the Empress Hotel, Unifor members are prioritizing wages and housekeeping workloads, saying injuries on the job can be a common result of unrealistic work assignments. In a workplace survey conducted by Unifor, these predominantly women and workers of colour reported they are often afraid to report injuries or ask for assistance.
“The Fairmont Empress is a top-tier hotel and its workers deserve respect and fair compensation. It’s a leader in the industry and we expect the collective agreement to lead the way,” says Lana Payne, Unifor national president. “The employer must come to the table prepared to bargain a fair contract that reflects the critical contribution of hotel workers.”
“B.C. has built a world-renowned tourism industry around a solid hospitality sector led by facilities like the Fairmont Empress. A fair contract will ensure hotel workers at a key site in the capital will earn a fair wage and improve workplace health and safety,” says Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor western regional director.
