The bargaining committee for workers at the Fairmont Empress Hotel have reached a tentative agreement with their employer.
Unifor Local 4267 served strike notice last week. The union, which represents about 500 members, was in a position to strike as of 8聽a.m. Saturday.
Empress workers will vote on ratifying the contract this week. The previous three-year contract expired on March 1.
鈥淭he bargaining committee successfully fought back concessions and achieved many of our goals for a new contract,鈥� said James Griffin, president of Local聽4276.
The employer said in a statement they worked hard to find common ground before the strike deadline and focused on an agreement that 鈥渟ignifies how much we value our colleagues.鈥�
鈥淲e are delighted that a resolution has been reached and pleased to be moving forward.鈥�
More details about the agreement will be made available聽after the ratification meeting.
Unifor national representative Mario Santos had previously said that the union was seeking a three-year contract that includes a聽clause stating that no rooms in the hotel will be converted to residential use during the life of the agreement.
It鈥檚 expected that residential use 鈥� something that is being seen at other hotels 鈥� would mean job losses for members, he said.
Other issues include gratuities, overtime and sick time.
Local 4267 represents almost 500 Empress workers in the housekeeping, culinary, groundskeeping, serving, guest relations, maintenance, and engineering departments.
