Agreement ratified by workers at Westin Ottawa
December 10, 2018
On December 6, 2018, members of UFCW Local 175 at the Westin Ottawa ratified a new four-year agreement.
Members at the Westin turned down an earlier offer in November to fight for more substantial wage increases, and better language regarding long shifts and Green Choice rooms.
The ratified deal, reached through conciliation, contains language establishing that Housekeeping employees required to clean four Green Choice rooms in one day, will have one less room to clean on that day.
Gratuity-receiving employees will see wages increase by a total of $1.65 per hour over the term of the contract. Non-gratuity employees will get raises totalling $2.40 per hour over the four-year term. Employees classified as Room Attendants/Engineers will see increases of $2.95 per hour during the life of the contract.
Banquet employees will receive raises totalling 50 cents per hour by the last year of the deal. In addition, the gratuity amounts tipped out to Banquet staff will rise to 12.5% for both food and beverages by year four. Improved language establishes regular Banquet shifts as eight hours and long shifts at a maximum of 10 hours.
The Union negotiating committee also achieved better language for Banquet employees that makes long shifts voluntary.
Other monetary improvements include $2 per bag paid to Service Express employees for non-guests who request bag storage at the hotel. In addition, Driveway workers, who may now wear UV protected sunglasses, will receive $1.85 in gratuities for each long-term Valet parked car, as of January 2020. Last but not least, Daly’s restaurant servers will receive gratuities of 12% on complimentary items.
Members benefit from Sick Pay bonus of $100 per unused day each year, to a maximum of $500 annually. Statutory holidays will be paid in 8, 10, and 12-hour shifts depending on which shift the employees worked.
The agreement covers approximately 156 full-time and 98 part-time hospitality staff in the bargaining unit.
Union Negotiating Committee:
- George Benham,
- George Corpuz,
- Peter Meelker,
- Scott Molnar,
- Andre Plamondon,
- Jamie Rada,
- Rachid Sebky,
- Merle Shepherd, and;
- Union Reps Shannon Epp, Dean McLaren, and Joe Tenn.