Queen Elizabeth hotel locks out unionized workers in Montreal
Posted November 20, 2024 11:35 am.
Last Updated November 20, 2024 1:18 pm.
About 600 Unionized hotel workers at Fairmont The Queen Elizabeth in Montreal were locked out as of 6 a.m. on Wednesday morning, which was implemented by the employer.
“This decision follows the rejection of the management’s proposal by union representatives during recent negotiations,” writes the hotel in a press release. “It is important to note that this proposal has been accepted by 17 other establishments in the hotel sector in Quebec, over the past few weeks.”
The Queen Elizabeth hotel adds that, “despite considerable efforts by management over the past year, including the use of conciliators and the withdrawal of several initial demands in a spirit of compromise, discussions have not resulted in an agreement. The union has remained firm in its positions, maintaining several demands deemed unreasonable and exerting significant pressure tactics.”
Meeting in a general assembly on Nov. 19, employees rejected their employer’s latest offer by 94 per cent for the general unit and 100 per cent for the reception and janitorial unit.
The union represents some 600 workers and is taking part in the coordinated hotel negotiations being conducted by the CSN-affiliated Fédération du commerce.
The union reports that it’s the clauses relating to the use of personnel placement agencies, as well as those dealing with workload, that are major sticking points.
“Not only is Queen Elizabeth stubbornly refusing to grant all the gains achieved through coordinated bargaining, notably on the important issues of workload and the use of private agencies, it is also throwing a spanner in the works on local issues,” writes the Fédération du commerce (FC-CSN). “The climate is particularly tense at this bargaining table, where anti-union tactics have been multiplying for months. This lockout comes on top of the one at the Radisson Hotel since Nov. 1, and the unlimited general strike at the Hotel PUR in Quebec City since Sept. 13.”
The Queen Elizabeth says, “They remain committed to finding a solution that respects the interests of its employees. […] And they remain open to dialogue and hopes to resume negotiations constructively to reach a quick and satisfactory resolution for all parties involved.”
“Queen Elizabeth had everything in hand to put the labour dispute behind it. Instead of working to bring the negotiations to a close by granting the gains achieved through coordinated bargaining, the employer is locking itself into a childish anti-union logic. If we’ve managed to settle at more than 17 hotels, there’s no reason why we can’t reach a satisfactory agreement at the Queen Elizabeth,” explains Alexandre Laviolette, president of the Fédération du commerce (FC-CSN).
The hotel in the meantime is apologizing for any inconvenience the lockout may cause to their clients and partners. “We want to reassure our clientele that we are doing everything possible to minimize disruptions and maintain quality service.”
