Tim Hortons, Milestones workers go on strike at Vancouver airport

by Carlito Pablo on February 17th, 2010 at 9:38 AM

Travellers and workers at the Vancouver International Airport will have to go without their Tim Hortons double-double.

Starting at 6 a.m. today (February 17), 300 employees working in food and beverage and retail outlets at the airport went on strike.

The workers with HMSHost, an American company, are represented by Unite Here Local 40.

Union staff member Lynn Flandera told the Straight that the strike covers six Tim Hortons outlets, and two Milestones restaurants.

Below is the union’s press release on the job action:

300 HMS Host workers at Vancouver Airport on strike
U.S.-based multinational contractor, HMS Host, is forcing food service workers at YVR to choose between welcoming the world and keeping their jobs
300 Host workers are on strike after weeks of intense negotiations failed to address key job issues. Host workers, represented by Unite Here Local 40, have been working without a union contract since March 2009.
Job security is the key issue. 60 Host workers will lose their jobs immediately after the Olympics when Milestones Restaurant in the domestic terminal closes.
On January 4, 2010, HMS Host issued a lockout notice to employees in an attempt to intimidate workers into settling the contract. When Host workers refused to be bullied, the company came back to the bargaining table for several weeks of negotiations--but still failed to adequately address the job security issue, along with pension and medical issues. On February 12, Host workers voted 90% to strike.
Fipe Wong, a 14-year cook in Palominos said, “Its unfortunate. We didn’t want this. We want to work during the Olympics. We’re not asking for much--just job security. If they can do it to Milestones, they can do it to us, too. So we’re all prepared to fight”
HMS Host operates Milestones, Tim Hortons, Palominos and many other food, beverage and retail outlets at YVR. 18 locations will be affected by the strike.
UNITE HERE represents more than 10,000 HMS Host workers at airports throughout North America.