A strike looming Saturday morning by unionized Fairmont Empress Hotel workers has been avoided, with a tentative contract reached.
In a release Friday, Unifor Local 4276 says there is a tentative deal with the employer, and Empress workers will vote on ratifying the contract next week.
No details of the tentative pact are known, but the union says those will be available after the ratification vote.
“The bargaining committee successfully fought back concessions and achieved many of our goals for a new contract,” said Local 4276 President James Griffin in a statement.
Earlier this week, Unifor Local 4276 issued a strike notice for 8 a.m. Saturday.
The union represents almost 500 Empress workers in the housekeeping, culinary, groundskeeping, serving, guest relations, maintenance, and engineering departments.
According to Unifor, Hospitality is one of the largest employers in Canada, with more than 1.2 million people working in the sector.
“Unifor is a union for hotel workers,” Unifor National President Jerry Dias added in the release.
“I’m proud of the work accomplished by Local 4276 to lead the hospitality sector in British Columbia.”
The last time the two sides butted heads at the bargaining table was back in 2016 and although a strike was looming, an agreement was reached in hours prior.
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