Backlash hits Falls hotel after tourists kicked out for joining picket line
A prominent Canadian union has cancelled its reservations with Canadian Niagara Hotels for two upcoming events after the company booted two British visitors from their room for joining the Rainforest Cafe picket line.
Tom Galivan, secretary treasurer with the Services Employees International Union (SEIU) Local 2 — it represents about 12,000 workers across Canada — has told the Niagara Falls company “we cannot in good conscience” patronize its facilities or stay at any of its hotel properties for an event in October and a national convention scheduled for September 2020.
Galivan said the union was “disturbed by reports in local media” in which U.K. tourist Alan Tomlinson and his daughter and Lauren supported strikers on the picket line Saturday, then were booted from their room at the Crowne Plaza hotel, which is also owned by Canadian Niagara Hotels.
Galivan said they were barred from the hotel “because they participated in a lawful picket line.”
“Such actions demonstrate an open hostility to labour unions and make your venue unsuitable for union or union affiliated events.”
About 95 servers, bussers and hostesses at Rainforest Cafe have been on strike since last Monday after a yearlong effort to get a first contract with Canadian Niagara Hotels broke down.
They’re represented by Workers United Local 2347. Spokesman Ryan Hayes estimated the two cancellations by SEIU Local 2 represent about $32,000 in bookings, and “we are hearing that other unions will be doing so as well.”
CUPE (Canadian Union of Public Employees) Ontario, representing about 270,000 members, has also sent word it won’t be staying at the Crowne Plaza hotel for future events.
“Given the amount of money union dues have contributed to your hotel over the last several years, this realization of your clear anti-union stance is beyond disappointing and indefensible,” read a statement co-signed by union president Fred Hahn and secretary-treasurer Candace Rennick. “This letter will serve notice that CUPE Ontario will be ceasing our relationship with the Crowne Plaza hotel, meaning we will be spending not one single penny there in the future, and we will be encouraging our locals and other labour partners to do the same.”
Ontario Federation of Labour has sent word it will encourage the 54 unions and million workers it represents to boycott all Canadian Niagara Hotels properties.
“We will escalate our actions as a result of your hotel management’s decision to engage in antiunion behaviour as exhibited by the eviction of the Tomlinson family,” wrote president Chris Buckley.
In a statement to The Review Monday, Canadian Niagara Hotels spokeswoman Sarah Vazquez said all hotels “occasionally deal with guests who interfere with other guests’ enjoyment of services and facilities or their operations.”
She also accused the union of planting staff in local hotels “to disrupt their operations” in the past.
After being forced to leave the Crowne Plaza, the Tomlinsons stayed at the Courtyard Marriott the final two nights of their stay. Reached Monday, Alan Tomlinson said he and his daughter felt “scared, threatened and intimidated” by the experience and vowed never to return to Niagara Falls.
On Tuesday, the story was picked up by CBC Marketplace.
Hayes believes it’s time for Mayor Jim Diodati to “step in” after Saturday’s incident involving the British tourists.
“Is this acceptable behaviour? Is this how we want to present Niagara Falls to the rest of the world?”
Contacted Wednesday, Diodati said the dispute was “a private business matter that doesn’t involve the city,” but hoped an agreement is reached soon.
“There is no benefit in it dragging on longer than it has to.”
In addition to the Rainforest Cafe and the Crowne Plaza hotel, Canadian Niagara Hotels owns several properties in the tourist district, including Sheraton on the Falls, an indoor waterpark and the Falls Avenue site of Casino Niagara. The company did not respond to interview requests Wednesday.