VANCOUVER, British Columbia — Hotel workers, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, have been picketing the Rosewood Hotel Georgia here since walking out Sept. 22. Management broke off talks Oct. 23.
The workers are fighting for a wage raise, safe working conditions and an end to sexual harassment of women workers. They’ve stood up to employer attempts to divide and intimidate them.
“CUPE, the painters union, and bus drivers are joining us in our rallies every Thursday,” Richard Reddy, a hospitality worker and bargaining committee member, told the Militant on the picket line.
On Oct. 27 some 1,500 other Local 40 members ended a 28-day strike at several other area hotels, winning wage raises of up to 25% over four years. But the Rosewood Hotel bosses insist “they’re not going to give us what the other hotels got,” Reddy said.