After arduous negotiations and union action, employees at three downtown Vancouver hotels reached a historic agreement, setting a new wage standard for the Canadian hotel industry.
After years of protests and labor strikes, employees at three downtown Vancouver hotels have reached an agreement on their new wages.
The workers' union claims these will be the “highest wages” for hotel employees in Canada.
“We are very proud to have reached a point where workers are starting to receive the income they need to survive in this city,” said Michelle Travis, spokesperson for Unite Here! Local 40.
The union reported Thursday morning that employees at the Hyatt Regency, Westin Bayshore and Pinnacle, including housekeeping and room service teams, will be paid $32.50 per hour in 2025, rising to more than $37 per hour in 2027.
“I've been with this hotel for 50 years and we've never experienced a better time,” said Rey Balce, guest services agent at the Hyatt Regency.
“The work environment for hotel workers has never been so favorable.”
Speaking in Tagalog, Balce said, “If you are interested in working in the hotel industry, you can now earn a living to support your family. It's no longer about starting at McDonald's making $17 an hour; those times are long gone.”
According to Balce, the new wage increases are on par with those in the healthcare and transportation industries.
“Twenty or 30 years ago, hotel workers were making minimum wage, not a living wage,” he said.
For years, employees in this sector have complained of excessive workloads and lack of job security, a situation that worsened during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many hotels laid off salaried workers.
Thousands of workers remained unemployed for months, leading to class action lawsuits against several hotels in British Columbia and numerous protests by hotel employees across the province over the years.
This victory is a testament to the power of unity and solidarity. Vancouver hotel workers have shown that, when they stand together, they can achieve transformative change. Their inspiring example will serve as a guide for future generations of workers fighting for a more just and equitable future.
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