Vancouver hotel worker issues


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September 1, 2007 Major issues on the table for Vancouver hotel workers Download Chinese version here. On August 15, 16 and 17, UNITE HERE Local 40 and the hotel employers met for negotiations. The union put more details to its economic proposals, and the hotels refused to offer any proposals at all. The hotel employers have said they wouldn’t give any proposals in front of the full negotiating committee. Local 40 President Jim Pearson insisted that the members have a right to be included in the process. Then the hotels said they needed a mediator to go any further. With a mediator in attendance over the following two days, the union continued to say that the members deserve a fair contract. A fair contract starts with an initial offer from the hotels. The hotels again refused to make any economic proposals. Through the mediator, the union offered more dates for bargaining. The hotels said they would not come to the table unless the union limited attendance at negotiations – and asked Local 40 to exclude organizing committee members. The union again told the employers that the members have a right to be included in the process and that Vancouver hotel workers deserve a full economic counter. Local 40 members deserve a fair contract. After 11 sessions, the hotels still won’t even give the union an initial proposal for a new contract. Negotiations with the mediator are scheduled to resume on September 12, 13, and 14. The union continues to believe meetings should take place before then. Hotel workers deserve a fair contract now.
Union Proposal - WAGES	Employer Response
• 6% raise per year and parity by the end of the contract	NO RESPONSE
Union Proposal - PENSION	Employer Response
• 15¢ per hour increase per year of the contract	NO RESPONSE
Union Proposal - MEDICAL	Employer Response
• 20 hour/week eligibility for Group 1 medical coverage • Continued coverage during long-term illness • Massages covered by the medical plan • Reduce the number of months needed to qualify for dental coverage • Prescription drug card • Double the amount of optical coverage	NO RESPONSE
Union Proposal - SICK DAYS	Employer Response
Six paid random sick days per year	WON'T DISCUSS
Union Proposal - HOUSEKEEPING WORKLOAD	Employer Response
• Room Attendants not assigned more than 14 rooms • If assigned 2 floors or more, drop 1 room for each floor • Check-out drops: 5 check-outs drop 1 room, 6 check-outs drop 2 rooms, 8 check-outs drop 3 rooms • 2 rollaways, cribs or sofa-beds, drop 1 room • 1 VIP or Special Attention room, drop 1 room • 2 double double rooms, drop 1 room • Room attendants will have adequate supplies • Assistance stripping and making beds on heavy check-out days • Robes not delivered by Room Attendants	NO RESPONSE
Union Proposal - SERVICE CHARGES	Employer Response
• Transparency for all service charges • Baggage handling charges guaranteed 100% to workers • Room Service automatic 15% delivery charge • Banquet Service Charges - 80% to workers, 20% to employers - Guaranteed minimum 17% service charge - Comp and promo – 17% of usual selling price - Points stay the same but banquet captains capped at 10% of bargaining unit service charge - Kitchen/Stewarding wage adjustment in recognition of contribution to functions	NO RESPONSE WON'T DISCUSS
Union Proposal - OTHER PROPOSALS	Employer Response
• Renovation recall rights regardless of length of renovation • Graveyard shift premium of $1 per hour for all hours worked between 11 pm and 7 am • Bereavement leave increased to 5 days • Vacation: 15 years – 5 weeks, 30 years – 7 weeks • 8-hour interval guarantee, no waivers • Four Seasons Bell Captain rate adjustment • Restore Currents/Seawalls side letter • Training pay of $1 per hour for any shift during which an employee must train another employee • Banquet housemen - Banquet housemen parity - Increased hourly rate for banquet head housemen • Maintenance Classification rate adjustment • Hyatt Latte Café Bistro Server rate adjustment	NO RESPONSE
Union Proposal - DURATION	Employer Response
• 2 years	5 YEARS
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