Vancouver, BC — Over 100 hotel housekeepers, members of UNITE HERE Local 40, attended union contract negotiations with their employer group, members of the Greater Vancouver Hotel Employers Association (GVHEA) that took place at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Vancouver on Wednesday, July 18, 2007, and demanded more respect and less pain on the job. Speaking directly to their employers, including some Executive Housekeepers who were in attendance, members of the delegation described how their working conditions are affecting them, how they are working in pain almost all the time and how they are so exhausted from their workloads they have no energy left at the end of the day to spend quality time with their families. “These women are very courageous to come and speak directly to their employers,” said Jim Pearson, Local 40 president. “It is important their stories are heard and the personal impact of their working conditions are brought to these employer’s attention.” The women, who work in housekeeping at the Westin Bayshore, the Four Seasons, the Renaissance and the Hyatt Regency, were joined by their colleagues from the Delta Vancouver Airport Hotel, the Holiday Inn on Broadway and from the Hilton Metrotown as well as co-workers from other departments in their hotels. Many spoke out about the poor working conditions and demanded more time to do their work as their workload has significantly increased over the years, the result of marketing efforts by their employers to attract and keep customers. Bigger and heavier mattresses, more and more pillows, VIP rooms and numerous additional room amenities are causing more work to be done in less time and the housekeepers are reporting they are working through their breaks and suffering more injuries on the job, causing them to work in pain. Negotiations continue today, with specific housekeeping proposals to be presented to the employers. View bargaining update here. | 
