The 2,200 workers, organized by the Hotel, Restaurant, Culinary Employees and Bartenders Union (HRCEBU) Local 40, voted by a 97 percent margin to reject the offer from the Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association. The hotels are the Four Seasons, Westin Bayshore, Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, the Holiday Inn, Delta Pacific Resort, the Renaissance Vancouver, and the Hyatt Regency.

Angered by the bosses' refusal to meet their demands and the slow pace of negotiations, workers at the Delta Vancouver Hotel in Richmond walked off the job on July 3 at 1:00 p.m. The union had issued a 72-hour strike notice and the workers decided to exercise their right to strike without sanction from Local 40. Workers on the picket line explained to Militant reporters that they had been without a contract since March and had discussed among themselves the need to take action. Taxi drivers and the operators of the hotel's bus for guests immediately respected the pickets.

As news of the strike at the Delta Airport Hotel spread, workers at the other hotels also began walking off the job. "It was a real grassroots movement," said Bruce who works in banquets at the Hyatt Regency. "In the passion of the moment, we tore apart cardboard boxes to make signs. I'm thinking of keeping one of them as a souvenir," he continued. "Zero increase, zero work," the workers had written on several signs. Several hours later Local 40 officials gave their authorization to the strike.

Wages, benefits, and pension are key issues in the walkout. The Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association offered wage increases of 0, 1, and 1 percent over three years. "The tourism industry has made a lot of money over the last 15 years so we're asking for a fair wage that keeps up with inflation," said Victor, a doorman at the Renaissance. "We want at least 3 percent a year--the more the better," said one woman striker at the Delta Airport who requested that her name not be used because she feared reprisal from management after the strike. "Here everything is poor--poor wages, poor benefits, poor pensions. That is what we want to change," she said.

"Our dental coverage should be 100 percent, not 80 percent," explained Lielelotte Fett, who has been at the Renaissance Hotel since 1981. "We're on strike for better benefits and pensions," said Kulvinder, a room attendant at the Renaissance for 12 years. "I've been here for 25 years and I'll only get a pension of $160," said a worker at the Delta Airport Hotel who asked that his name not be used.

The hotel workers are receiving support from other workers. "The offer from the hotel owners was an insult," said Albert Reagan, a HRCEBU member at CARA flight kitchens who came to the Renaissance Hotel picket line to show his support. The Canadian Union of Public Employees in British Columbia has sent a letter of support, which is on the bulletin board of the picket line at the Renaissance Hotel. Strikers report that people driving by honk in support throughout the day.

In addition, about 100 housekeeping and laundry workers at the Pacific Inn in Surrey, a Vancouver suburb, have been locked out since June 23. The members of Canadian Auto Workers (CAW) Local 3000 are fighting against the contracting out of their jobs as the employer tries to bust the union. Jasminder and Surinder told Militant reporters that it was their first time on the picket line as they stopped cars to give drivers leaflets explaining the issues in their fight. They have worked at the hotel since it opened eight years ago.

"The owner pays contract workers only $8 an hour but CAW members make $10.88," explained Local 3000 vice president Jean Van Vliet. About 450 members of the local at other hotels are also in negotiations with the bosses at the height of Vancouver's busy tourist season.

Beverly Bernardo is a meat packer. Ned Dmytryshyn, a member of the International Association of Machinists, contributed to this article.  
 
 
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