International visitors arriving at Vancouver International Airport (YVR) Wednesday were greeted by shuttered shops and a picket line of more than 50 striking food-service employees.
Three hundred HMSHost employees walked off the job Wednesday morning, forcing businesses such as Milestones, Harvey's and Tim Hortons to close. The dispute centres on 60 Milestones employees - including cooks, hosts, and servers - whose jobs will be lost when the restaurant closes following the 2010 Games and is taken over by White Spot.
"It would appear that HMS is trying to get rid of the union," said Unite Here! Local 40 union director, Lynn Flandera. Unite Here! Local 40 represents the 300 employees hired by HMS to fill positions in 14 food service outlets, two convenience stores and two warehouses at YVR.
The HMS workers have been without a union contract since March of 2009 and have been at the bargaining table ever since. "When we found out that Milestones was closing, job security took priority. We don't know who could be next," said Ms. Flandera.
"We just want jobs," said Anita Gundich who has been working as a server with HMS for 15 years, three of those spent with Milestones. "[HMS]said that it was going to be a one-to-one transfer of employees from Milestones to White Spot," said Ms.Gundich. "Not everyone would have been able to keep their job but at least it wouldn't be as severe."
Sadii Kristensen, a Milestones server for the past 3 years will also be losing her job. "Wage is not an issue, most of us don't even make $10 [per hour]" said Ms. Kristensen who filed below the poverty line on her last T4.
"I love my job, especially right now." said Ms. Kristensen , who was wearing an Olympic Believe sweatshirt and waving a cow bell bearing the Olympic rings. "With the Olympics here, we are the first faces that people see when they come to Vancouver and the last face they see before they leave. It's a shame that we have to be standing out here right now but we aren't going anywhere until this is settled."
Neil Nijma, at YVR in order to fly home to Toronto, said that it was a minor inconvenience.
"I just wanted a place to sit down and I usually go to Milestones," Mr. Nijma said, sitting in the food court enjoying a foot long sub. "But it's not a big deal."
"HMSHost is disappointed that the Union took job action today, especially given our intensive efforts and availability to negotiate and avoid disruption during the 2010 Winter Olympic Games," HMSHost head office stated via email.