Members of UNITE HERE Local 40 working at Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa voted 96 per cent in favour of strike action on Monday, June 24.
According to a release from the union, room attendants, front desk agents, servers, cooks, dishwashers and other resort workers are calling for fair wages, fair scheduling, improved medical benefits, banquet tip transparency and adequate pension.
"Guests can pay over $300 a night to stay, yet workers have not had a raise in a year," the union stated.
The most recent workers' collective agreement expired back in May. UNITE HERE filed a bad faith bargaining charge after the resort failed to respond to requests to bargain back in February. The union and resort heads have held several bargaining sessions and will resume negotiations this week.
"During the pandemic, workers put their health and safety on the line to keep the hotel running," the union stated. "They agreed to modest wage increases and limited concessions on overtime and vacations to meet the challenges of the public health crisis. However, the resort experienced a rebound in leisure travel much sooner than the province’s urban hotel markets and continues to have a bustling business."
The Aldesta Hotel Group owns Harrison Hot Springs Resort and Spa. Aldesta acquired the Fairmout Hot Springs Resort for $40 million last year.
The Observer has reached out to The Aldesta Hotel Group for comment.
