Striking Vancouver hotel workers to vote on tentative agreement

The union representing about 1,500 striking Vancouver hotel workers has reached a tentative agreement with three out of the fourhotels involved.

Sharan Pawa, communications specialist with Unite Here Local 40, said in a release a ground-breaking agreement was secured early Tuesday morning with the Westin Bayshore, Hyatt Regency andPinnacle Harbourfront.

Pawa says the deal also includestheFour Seasons Hotel, where staff were not striking.

However,the picket line is now moving in front of the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, where no agreement has been reached, as it was not a part of the bargaining group that included the other hotels.

"We're very glad we've reached this tentative agreement," said Pawa.

Union members will vote Wednesday on whether to accept the tentative agreement. Pawa expects a decision will be announced Wednesday evening.

The specific details of the agreement are being kept private until after the vote, but Pawa says they include a significant wage increase for staff over four years, protections against sexual harassment, job security for room attendants and kitchen workers and continuedhealth insurance.

Workers have been striking since Sept. 19 when room attendants, chefs, front-desk staff and other employees walked off the job after more than a year of negotiations over issues related to safety, workload and job security failed to yield results.