Food service workers at Vancouver Airport (YVR) may go on strike ahead of spring break. UNITE HERE Local 40, the union representing YVR food service employees, announced on March 15 that 85% of its members voted in favor of going on strike.
Union members have been negotiating with their employer, SSP Canada Food Services, overpay increases for several months. If the strike goes ahead, more than 200 food service workers at YVR’s international and domestic terminals will be out of work.
Airports are extremely busy from spring break to the Easter holiday. YVR is also expected to have 1.1 million users, so confusion is inevitable. However, as of March 16, no strike date has been announced.
Recent data shows the average wage is $18.27, well below Metro Vancouver’s living wage of $25.68. The union also wants to reinstate a subsidy program for people working overtime on the SkyTrain public transportation system, such as Uber, ride sharing, and taxis.