Hotel Workers Persist in Defending Their Rights and Dignity
Women Lead Lively Rally to Support Fired and Locked-Out BC Workers
- Anne Jamieson -
 
Unite Here! Local 40 organized a rally and sit-in to mark the
one-year anniversary of the struggle by BC hotel workers against
layoffs and other draconian actions during the pandemic by hotels in
the Lower Mainland. Over 300 hotel workers and their allies assembled
in front of the Hilton Metrotown hotel in Burnaby where workers have
been locked out since April 15. A band of drums and cymbals could be
heard from blocks away. Participants blew whistles and banged on pots
and pans surrounded by red signs saying "LOCKED OUT -- Unite Here!
Local 40."
Hotel workers were joined by members of many other unions including
the women leaders of the Canadian Labour Congress, the BC Federation of
Labour, the Canadian Union of Public Employees - BC, the BC General
Employees Union, the Canadian Union of Postal Workers, the BC Teachers'
Federation, the Hospital Employees Union, and
the United Food and Commercial Workers Union. There was a sea of union
flags which also included those of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local
1724, the Construction Maintenance and Allied Workers, the Health
Sciences Association, Richmond teachers and others. Migrante BC which
counts some of the hotel workers amongst its members,
and local, provincial and federal politicians also joined the action.
Another prominent sign said, "Do not use the pandemic as an excuse to
replace us." Another said, "High standards, low wages."
 A
Unite Here! Local 40 organizer gave the first short speech in a
militant and impassioned manner. She said that 97 employees were
terminated by the Hilton Metrotown in mid-April -- a year into the
pandemic. When the workers protested by organizing a one-day strike on
April 15 the hotel locked them out and they have been locked out ever
since. She pointed out that the draconian actions of the Hilton are
part of a broader attack on hotel workers across the province. The
majority of these workers are women, she said, many of them single
parents, and added, "We are not going to take this pandemic
profiteering quietly!"
Two hotel workers described how they had worked
very diligently, helping to make the hotel a success, only to be
treated in a disrespectful and dismissive manner. Their lives, they
said, have become very difficult. A representative from the BC
Teachers' Federation said "Pandemic profiteering has to stop!" Many BC
unions regularly use the Hilton Metrotown for meetings, social
gatherings and for accommodation for out of town members attending
events in the Lower Mainland, and are currently boycotting the hotel
until it commits to rehiring all the workers.
Following the speeches the crowd marched to the nearby major
intersection of Kingsway and Willingdon, blocking the intersection
during rush hour and chanting slogans that included: What Do We Want? Respect!, Contract! When Do We Want It? Now!, We're Fired Up! Won't Take it No More!, No Justice! No Peace!, No Respect! No
Peace! No Health Care! No Peace! No Contract! No Peace!, R-E-S-P-E-C-T. All We Want Is Dignity!
Everyone then marched back to the hotel on McKay Street where the
band of drums and cymbals played again vigorously, people keeping time
with tapping toes. Before dispersing the crowd pledged with fists
upraised "We'll be back! We'll be back!"
 
 
 
This article was published in
August 13, 2021 - No. 69
Article Link:
https://cpcml.ca/WF2021/Articles/WO08691.HTM
Website: www.cpcml.ca
Email: editor@cpcml.ca
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