Thursday afternoon laid off hotel workers were demonstrating outside Tourism Minister Lisa Beare鈥檚 office in Maple Ridge, saying government must protect their jobs.
The members of the Unite Here Local 40 union shouted slogans like 鈥淗ey, hey Minister Beare, help these workers in despair.鈥� They carried placards reading 鈥淧ut workers first in any industry bailout鈥� and 鈥淗ire me back!鈥�
They are fasting for a commitment from the government to protect 50,000 hotel jobs, and will have an encampment outside the Maple Ridge-Pitt Meadows MLA鈥檚 office on the Lougheed Highway, at the junction with Dewdney Trunk Road. They will demonstrate there indefinitely, said Michelle Travis, a union spokesperson.
She noted the the province is considering the tourism industry鈥檚 request for a $680 million bailout, but some businesses are firing their long-term, laid-off staff.
The hunger strikers are awaiting a decision from the province that could affect up to 50,000 hotel workers across B.C. She noted a provincial review of recall protections for hotel workers concluded on Aug. 20, but the province has not announced a decision on the matter. Hotel workers have been fasting on the lawn of the BC Legislature since Aug. 10.
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鈥淚 don鈥檛 know what to expect,鈥� said Travis of the looming decision. 鈥淏ut we鈥檙e making sure they don鈥檛 forget there is a crisis.鈥�
The COVID-19 pandemic has been catastrophic for the hospitality industry, she said, with cruise ships no longer sailing, and the border closed to visitors causing huge impacts.
One of the speakers at the demonstration was Rev. Allen Aiken of Maple Ridge, who expressed support and blessings for the workers.
They should insist 鈥渨orkers deserve the legal right to return to their jobs,鈥� he said.
Vancouver city councillor Jean Swanson was also there to support the workers, and from the podium said an NDP government should stick up for workers.
Beare did not appear to be at the constituency office, which was locked. There was no response to knocks on the door.
ncorbett@mapleridgenews.com
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