Workers at Queen Elizabeth Hotel give themselves new strike mandate

Workers at the Queen Elizabeth Hotel in Montreal adopted a new strike mandate, which could go as far as an indefinite strike.

Members were asked to vote on the new strike mandate at a meeting held on Sunday afternoon.

According to the union, the new mandate was approved by 95 per cent of the workers who voted on it.

Union members at this major Montreal hotel needed a new mandate, as they had used up their last three strike days of the previous mandate on Friday, Saturday and Sunday.

The new strike mandate, which could go as far as an unlimited general strike, could be used at any time.

The union now hopes that “the threat of a larger strike” will break the deadlock in negotiations with the employer.

“This week, our negotiating team will be hard at work to reach an agreement and avoid a strike,” maintained Michel Valiquette, who is responsible for the hotel sector and treasurer of the CSN-affiliated Fédération du commerce, in a press release.

“As of today, we will be making counter-proposals to the employer, particularly with regard to training, employment agencies and workload,” he said.

The 600 workers at the Queen Elizabeth are currently negotiating with employees at several other Quebec hotels to renew their collective agreement.

Last week, workers at some twenty hotels held a one-day walkout to protest the slow pace of negotiations with management.

Several unions, including that of the Queen Elizabeth, have also held surprise strike days in recent weeks.

Hotel workers are demanding a 36 per cent pay rise over four years.

They are also demanding three weeks’ vacation in the first year of service, an employer contribution to the group insurance plan, and better training for the next generation.

On Saturday, the Association hôtelière du Grand Montréal assured that hoteliers are ready to negotiate “without respite to find an agreement beneficial to all parties”.

“Strikes take hostage not only employees, but also the many visitors passing through the metropolis”, it pleaded.

Coordinated bargaining involves some 3,500 hotel workers in the Capitale-Nationale, Estrie, Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Greater Montreal regions.

–This report by La Presse Canadienne was translated by CityNews