BC hospitality union calls for immediate government support for industry workers

Union states that over 90% of its members have lost their jobs in the past two weeks due to COVID-19.

Mar 31, 2020 - EightSix Staff

Representing over 60,000 workers in airports, hotels, food service and resource camps in British Columbia, Unite Here Local 40 union leaders are imploring provincial and federal governments to do more to help hospitality workers.

With over 90% of its members out of work due to business closures from government-enforced social distancing measures, the union asks that governments do three things:

1) Implement an 80% wage replacement, including tips for those workers who earned them

2) Provide employment opportunities for hospitality workers in government-organized emergency initiatives, along with health and safely training

3) Provide a relief package for the hospitality industry and include medical benefits

Without such support, the union warns that BC's tourism industry, which generated over $22 billion in 2018, is on the brink of collapse.