Four Vancouver Hotels Still on Strike Watch
Chris · September 05, 2007
Local Vancouver news radio station CKNW featured a story today titled “Hotel workers to begin strike action next week.”
This headline is not entirely accurate in that no strike notice has actually been submitted as yet by the union, and contract negotiations are still scheduled next week between UNITE Local 40 and the big-four hotel properties; the Four Seasons, the Renaissance, the Westin Bayshore, and the Hyatt Regency. Talks are scheduled for September 12-14th.
CKNW mentioned that UNITE Local 40 representative Laura Moore says they’ll be leafletting the public in the downtown core on Friday and move on to “bigger things” Tuesday. The leaflets are intended to publicize the working conditions of local hotel employees. No word yet whether “bigger things” means actual job action.
“We are really trying everything we can try to get the employer to deal seriously with us without putting the city through another strike and so you know that action on Tuesday is going to be a serious action, but there is no 72 hour strike notice sent yet.”
While it is true that union representation has voted 85 percent in favour of job action should talks deteriorate next week, there is still time to get back to the table and find a way to avoid the nasty business of a hotel strike.
So...what does actually happen in hotel properties during a strike? The management team in each hotel will have to implement their predetermined “strike plans”.
Salaried management in each property will likely move into their respective hotels for the duration of the job action. Each manager will have his own operational role to play to take care of guests as best they can under the circumstances. Cleaning guestrooms, checking in guests, patrolling the property to maintain security and safety.
Ultimately, hotels will likely begin a process of shutting down restaurant outlets and other ancillary services such as health clubs, pools, and business centres. Housekeeping services will be offered only to check-out rooms and room service will be cancelled.
These four hotels depend largely on large group and convention business, some of whom will not be willing to cross picket lines. Attempts will be made to relocate these groups to other local hotels, as well as any other guests who will not cross the line or just don’t want to bother getting jeered at by union employees as they leave their taxis and attempt to check in.
It has always amazed me that hotel workers, whose livelihood depends entirely on guest satisfaction and repeat business, are the same people cussing and screaming at guests as they attempt to enter the property during job action. Talk about shooting yourself in the foot.
You can be sure that I will be in the downtown core this Friday to see what transpires with the leafletting efforts--I can’t wait to read about the “terrible” working conditions that have our UNITE Local 40 employees so up-in-arms. I doubt the public will be reading about annual hotel staff picnics and awards ceremonies, extensive benefit packages, paid training, educational bursaries, subsidized staff meals, free uniform cleaning, advancement and transfer opportunities, and wages that often match what salaried supervisors make in a year--after a few paid hours of optional overtime handed out like candy.
Last week I read an article in Vancouver’s pro-union “Columbia Journal” (Vol. 12 #2) that outlined the history of UNITE/HERE. The union’s roots are steeped in the honourable plight of fighting for working conditions of marginalized workers in some of Vancouver’s seedy garment industry sweatshops--which still exist even today.
I agree that UNITE/HERE has done much good for workers who deserve better (or even basic) conditions in the garment industry, but the current strategy under UNITE/HERE and Local 40 hospitality workers is clearly, at least in my mind, mixing two employee groups that have no business negotiating under the same militant, combative platform.
Linkage
Strike Update, Sept 12 [Vacant Ready]
Vancouver Hotel Employees Push for Better Conditions [Vacant Ready]
