GTA hotel workers vote to stay with their union
Vote is a blow for Unifor, which has been attempting to recruit from other groups
Those who defected work at the Courtyard Marriott, Marriott Bloor Yorkville, Westin Prince and Delta Toronto Airport hotel
Thousands of workers at 17 Greater Toronto Area hotels have voted against defecting to Unifor and will stay with Unite Here Local 75.
The vote is a blow for Unifor, Canada’s largest private-sector union, which has been attempting to raid other unions for workers since it left the Canadian Labour Congress in mid-December after complaining about congress regulations around allowing workers to change unions.
Through the vote, Unifor managed to recruit 800 workers from four of the 24 hotels at stake. Those who defected are employed at the Courtyard Marriott, Marriott Bloor Yorkville, Westin Prince and Delta Toronto Airport hotel.
Before Wednesday’s hotel vote, CLC president Hassan Yussuf and the Ontario Public Service Employees Union president Warren (Smok- ey) Thomas had urged Unifor to stop trying to recruit members of rival unions in January.
On Thursday, Unite Here said Un- ifor tried to raid members from 24 of the 48 hotels it represents.
While Unite Here came out on top at the majority of the hotels, a win- ner was yet to be declared in the votes at the Hyatt Regency, Sheraton airport hotel and Four Points airport hotel.
In a release, Unifor said it was “optimistic” the results will indicate that the 399 workers at the three hotels voted in its favour.
The delay in receiving some of the results is stemming from a complaint from workers regarding the Ontario Labour Relations Board’s method of sealing ballot boxes.
They also raised concerns about Unifor’s tactics and alleged bullying in the workplace.
Rik Hockley, a banquet server at the Novotel Toronto Centre and Unite Here member, said in a release that he is “so proud” that his coworkers “chose to stick together and defend our rights as a union.”
“It shows the courage and strength of working people,” he said. “We have sacrificed too much to allow our union to move backwards.”