After a strike notice was issued last week by union members working at the Fairmont Empress Hotel, a new collective agreement was ratified with no strike action.
The union representing many Empress employees, Unifor Local 4276, provided the hotel with a 72-hour strike notice last Thursday, June 4th, allowing the workers to strike as early as Saturday.
A strike was ultimately avoided as the union and Empress were able to come to agreeable terms late last week which have now been ratified by Unifor members.
According to the union, wage increases and mental health benefits are key improvements for workers in the newly signed collective agreement.
“Hospitality workers are the backbone of the industry. Their work must be respected and recognized in their collective agreements,” said Lana Payne, president of Unifor National.
“We’re proud of the Unifor members at the Fairmont Empress who bargained hard for strong improvements.”
Related:
- Fairmont Empress workers serve strike notice with a potential start this weekend
- Union members at Fairmont Empress vote 99% in favour of strike if necessary
Specifically, the new agreement includes a 17.75% wage increase over a four-year term, an increase in benefits coverage for mental health supports and stronger paramedical and vision benefits.
The agreement also provides workers gains in vacation, sick days and contractual protections against abuse on the job from hotel patrons.
“It went right down to the wire, but Local 4276 didn’t blink,” said Gavin McGarrigle, regional director of Unifor Western.
“This tenacity is reflected in their new industry-leading agreement.”
Unifor is Canada’s largest union in the private sector, representing 320,000 workers in every major area of the economy.
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