Pan Pacific Toronto hotel workers ratify new agreement

Unifor Local 112 members have unanimously ratified a new agreement with the Pan Pacific Hotel.

"To say that the COVID-19 pandemic was devastating to hospitality workers is an understatement," says John Turner, Local 112 president. "The pandemic has clearly shown the importance of hotel workers having the protection of a union that holds employers accountable."

The agreement extends union members' recall rights, including pandemic-related recall rights until March 2023, indefinite recall rights for any renovation-related layoffs, and 78 weeks of recall rights for any other layoff. As well, members' job security language has been strengthened with a commitment not to convert the hotel premises to condominiums. The agreement also introduces a Racial Justice Advocate position to support Black, Indigenous and racialized workers.

The agreement includes wage increases, higher employer contributions to both health and pension benefits, nine months of family prescription drug coverage for laid-off full-time workers, a $5 per day meal supplement, and the enhanced retirement allowance, the highest in the Toronto hotel sector, has been maintained. The employer also agreed to a repayment timetable for the remainder of the employer's delinquent payments to the employee health and welfare fund and pension plan.

Housekeeping workloads were also improved, including no loss of hours for the hotel's room attendants should the hotel opt for a green choice program in the future. Pan Pacific Room attendants clean no more than 14 rooms per day.