Unionized workers at Vancouver’s upscale Arbutus Club have voted overwhelmingly in favour of strike action if negotiations with their employer remain stalled, Unifor said Thursday.
Members of Unifor Local 3000, who provide hospitality and service support at the private club, voted 95 per cent in favour of a strike mandate, citing stagnant wage talks and a lack of progress at the bargaining table.
“Unless something changes at the bargaining table, Arbutus Club members can expect a serious service disruption and a noisy picket line,” said Lana Payne, Unifor’s national president.
Unifor said many of its members earn less than the region’s calculated living wage and are calling for what it describes as “reasonable” increases to pay and improvements to working conditions.
The Arbutus Club, located in the affluent Shaughnessy neighbourhood, is a members-only facility with fees that Unifor claims “run tens of thousands of dollars.” Despite that, the union said the employer has shown little willingness to address workers’ concerns during negotiations.
“We couldn’t have asked for a stronger strike mandate. It’s clear that Local 3000 members are fed up,” said Gavin McGarrigle, Unifor’s western regional director. “First-class service deserves first-class wages. It’s that simple.”
The union did not indicate when job action might begin, but said the strike vote was aimed at pressuring the employer to return to the table with a more serious approach.
Unifor represents roughly 320,000 private-sector workers across Canada in industries including health care, manufacturing, transportation and hospitality.
