More than 5,000 Toronto hotel workers voted to take strike action Thursday, June 3, if their contract negotiations fall through later on this month.
The employees, which include front desk workers, porters, cleaners, and kitchen staff, work at 32 hotels in the downtown core.Unite Here Local 75 and hotel management have until midnight on Wednesday, June 23 to reach an agreement. The job action could begin as dozens of the world's most powerful leaders are set to come to town for the G20 Summit. Without a contract since February, the staff members are fighting to stop shortened shifts, split shifts, and irregular/unpredictable scheduling. They voted Thursday, June 3 morning 94.2 per cent in favour of going on strike if negotiations break down.The 100 or so employees from the Novotel Hotel on The Esplanade could actually walk off the job, rally and picket outside the hotel.-Joanna Lavoie with files from TorStar News Service