Member Advisory Regarding Vancouver Hotel Strike

SAG-AFTRA records indicate you may be currently or preparing to shoot in the Vancouver, BC area. We are passing along the following message from the hotel workers union in that city who are represented by Unite Here Local 40. The union members are currently on strike at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia and are requesting SAG-AFTRA members respect their picket line by not staying at this property. If production has booked your stay at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia, please request new accommodations until the strike has been settled. If you have any questions, please email steve.sidawi@sagaftra.org.
 
Message from Unite Here Local 40: 
Our union represents 200 workers at the Rosewood Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, B.C. who have been on strike for six weeks at this iconic hotel for a respectful work environment, livable wages, and safe workloads. However, none of these issues may be so important as addressing rampant sexual harassment in the service industry.

In July, hospitality workers at several Vancouver hotels were surveyed about their experience with sexual harassment. Rosewood Hotel Georgia had the highest proportion of surveyed workers who had been made to feel uncomfortable by guest behavior (73%). Rosewood Hotel Georgia also had the highest proportion of surveyed workers who reported that a guest has touched or tried to touch them in an unwelcome way (56%). Forty-six workers at this hotel were surveyed.

“Sexual harassment is a problem for many women working in this industry, and at this hotel in particular. Female servers have been touched, kissed, and have experienced sexual comments and advances from male guests and past managers. I feel that this type of behavior should not be tolerated,” said Sierra Garrison, a server at the Hotel Georgia.

In the wake of the #MeToo Movement, five female employees from Rosewood Hotel Georgia have filed a human rights complaint against the hotel alleging gender discrimination, an overly-sexualized work environment and failure to respond appropriately to incidents of harassment or assault in the workplace. Every other Vancouver hotel that recently settled their disputes agreed to industry-leading safeguards to protect women on the job. Strikers want Rosewood Hotel Georgia to sign a contract that enshrines similar safeguards for women at this hotel. 

We urge you to immediately move all events, and room blocks out of this hotel, and to refrain from booking future events until the hotel resolves these critical issues. Instead, support hotels that respect women and keep workers safe in the workplace.