Summary
- Air Canada faces boycott over use of Sheraton Vancouver Airport despite ongoing picket lines.
- Unite Here Local 40 calls for public boycott and for Air Canada to halt business with hotels until labor dispute is resolved.
- Air Canada pilots hold informational picket demanding improved working conditions and higher wages. #AirCanadaPilots
Canadian flag carrier Air Canada has come under fire from Canadian Hospitality Employees for continuing to make use of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel for passengers and flight crews despite being behind picket lines. As such, on Thursday, a press conference was held outside of the Air Canada gates at Vancouver International Airport (YVR), followed by an illustration.
Boycott of Air Canada
On Thursday, December seventh, passengers traveling on Air Canada from Vancouver were aware of a protest on the airline’s gates. These protesters are members of a labor union called Unite Here Local 40 who’ve been on strike from their jobs on the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel for the past five months. Nonetheless, Thursday’s protest was aimed toward Canadian flag carrier Air Canada.
Photo: Peter Bueno | Shutterstock
The union is demanding a public boycott against Air Canada because they’ve continued to make use of the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel for flight crews and passengers, though it’s behind picket lines. Furthermore, the union wants Air Canada to stop doing business with the Marriott Vancouver Airport Hotel and the Hilton Vancouver Airport Hotel, halting any business with the Sheraton until the labor dispute is settled. Although the Hilton and Marriott, situated next to the Sheraton, are non-union, they’re all operated by Larco Hospitality.
Unite Here Local 40 union has stated that five airlines, including American Airlines, Japan Airlines, WestJet, Porter Airlines, and UPS, have all withdrawn their business from the Hilton, Sheraton, and Marriott airport hotels in support of the strike. Despite these actions by other carriers, Air Canada continues to send passengers and flight crew over the picket line.
Air Canada is the dominant carrier in Vancouver, with a 43% market share of flights, based on aviation analytics provider OAG. Furthermore, Vancouver is the airline’s third-largest hub behind Toronto Pearson International Airport (YYZ) and Montréal–Trudeau International Airport (YUL). With a big presence at Vancouver Airport, Air Canada is an important client for a lot of airport hotels.
In response to a press release from the Unite Here Local 40 union, Thursday’s strike, which included striking Sheraton hotel staff with fellow hospitality staff, began with a morning press conference outside of the Air Canada gates at Vancouver Airport at 11:00. The press conference was then followed by an illustration on the airport at 17:00.
Photo: WorldStock | Shutterstock
Employees on the Sheraton Vancouver Airport Hotel have been on strike since June for improved wages, as, based on the union, most hotel employees earn below the Metro Vancouver living wage of $24.08 per hour. Furthermore, the British Columbia Federation of Labour declared a boycott of the Hilton and Marriott airport hotels until the strike by Sheraton staff was settled.
More protests
On Friday, December eighth, Air Canada pilots held an informational picket at Vancouver Airport before the busy holiday travel season. The Air Canada pilots, represented by the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), demand improved working conditions and higher wages. The pilots proceed to cite working long hours with inadequate compensation. In June, the ALPA began working on a brand new agreement with Air Canada, only a day after WestJet ratified a brand new take care of fellow union members. The collective agreement between Air Canada and its pilots was reached nine years ago.
In September, Air Canada pilots staged an informational picket at Toronto Pearson, which didn’t affect the airline’s flight schedule. Friday’s picket followed the same plan and didn’t affect the airline’s flight schedule. The picket on Friday occurred between 12:15 and 13:15, with union members holding up signs and marching outside of the departure area at Vancouver Airport.