By Harinder Mahil
Last Thursday, a number of unions and community organizations participated in a rally in support of Pacific Gateway hotel workers who have been on strike since May 3, 2021. Workers, represented by UNITE HERE, Local 40, have been on the picket line every day to fight back against mass terminations and economic rollbacks.
The hotel terminated 143 employees during COVID-19 while it was used as a federal quarantine site. A significant number of affected workers are South Asian women, some with up to 45 years of service. The federal government ended its contract with the hotel earlier this year after striking workers urged them to do so.
I was really pleased to see a number of Indo-Canadian community organizations participate in the rally. I saw representatives of the South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy (SANSAD), the West Coast Coalition Against Racism (WCCAR), and the Tarksheel Society at the rally. I am sure some other organizations were represented there as well.
Balwinder Cheema, who has been employed at the hotel for 46 years, made a passionate speech at the rally. She said: “This was my first job and it will be my last job. I will not give up and continue to show up at the picket line until we win the strike.”
The rally at Pacific Gateway comes on the heels of a settlement of the year-long Hilton Metrotown labour dispute. Hilton Metrotown agreed to a process to return 97 workers terminated during the pandemic to their jobs. Most unionized hotels Canada have made similar commitments to protect workers’ jobs.
The 380-room hotel, owned by PHI Hotel Group, fired a majority of its employees while the hotel was used as a quarantine facility for travellers arriving from overseas. That included 90% of its housekeeping staff, many of whom are Indo-Canadians. One of the affected room attendants filed a human rights complaint against the hotel last year on behalf of terminated women on the basis of sex and race discrimination.
The termination of 143 employees during COVID-19 is a major issue in the strike.
Most unions have boycotted the hotel and pulled their business to express their displeasure at the hotel’s anti-union tactics.
The union is calling on management to reinstate all terminated employees and offer them an agreement enjoyed by other hotel workers in British Columbia.
Pacific Gateway should be ashamed for treating workers with such disrespect. At a time when there is a labour shortage, the hotel should be resolving the strike and reinstating all of its employees.
The lockout at Hilton Metrotown was won with the support of the trade union movement and community organizations. This strike too will be won the same way – with the support of the community.
Let us continue to support Pacific Gateway workers and make sure they win their just struggle.
Harinder Mahil is a community activist and President of the West Coast Coalition Against Racism (WCCAR).
