For immediate release
September 15, 2010
Cristal Cruz-Haicken
416-523-9729
Amarjeet Chhabra
416-856-9587
Toronto’s Delta East Workers Strike at Another Westmont Hotel
Global giant "dragging its feet" in their treatment of thousands of workers
TORONTO–Delta East hotel workers went on strike at midnight tonight at yet another Westmont-owned hotel in Toronto when bargaining talks broke down. Frustrated that the hotel chain is trying to make the recession permanent for workers, this is now the fourth strike by workers at a Westmont property in the past two weeks.
"Conditions at this hotel are unbearable for workers. We’re understaffed, our workloads keep increasing and yet there is no security or assurance that we will have enough work to take care of our families now or in the future," said Ingrid Moncriffe, a Room Attendant at the Delta East. "Westmont’s lack of respect for workers is having a negative impact not just on our lives, but the lives of more than 2,000 workers across the city."
"My hours have been cut so much that even though I’m working seven days a week, I still can’t make 40 hours," said Maria Richards who has worked as a second cook at the Delta East for 12 years. "I went to school and graduated as a professional, but all my training and certification is being totally dismissed."
The Westmont Group owns or operates 13 hotels that are in bargaining with UNITE HERE Local 75, which represents hotel workers. Westmont is one of the world’s largest private hotel companies with an ownership stake in over 500 hotels in North America, Europe and Asia. The chain has continued to drag out bargaining at all its Toronto properties, according to the union.
Local 75 represents over 7,000 hotel, hospitality and gaming workers in the Greater Toronto Area. For more information, please visit www.uniteherelocal75.org.