Interest in unions is growing in B.C.'s hospitality sector, organizers say — but obstacles remain

Labour groups say interest in unionizing British Columbia's accommodation and food service sector has never been higher as the cost of living continues to spike — but barriers remain before more workers across the province can collectively organize.

One of B.C.'s public sector unions, the B.C. General Employees' Union, started job action earlier this week over a lack of wage protection amid rising inflation.

And, as such public sector unions flex their muscles — largely due to their collective agreements with the province expiring — there are also signs that union activity is growing in the private sector, where collective organization is relatively rare, especially in hospitality.

That uptick has been headlined by three Starbucks outlets in B.C. where staff have joined unions, in Victoria, Surrey and Langley.

"The conditions have gotten harder and more difficult for workers to make ends meet. It's created the conditions where workers want to organize," said Michelle Travis, the spokesperson for B.C. hotel workers' union Unite Here Local 40.

"You could say there's a fire that's been lit for workers."

At the unionized Langley Starbucks, shift supervisor Sarah Anderson says working conditions had the largest impact on employees' voting to join the United Steelworkers, and she is optimistic for the spread of the movement.

"We've had a lot of safety issues for our partners and ourselves. And it was getting to the point where we weren't seeing any response from higher up," Anderson told CBC News.

"What we're hoping for is that we can spread this wave across B.C. and maybe even potentially Canada."

The organization of the Langley and Surrey Starbucks outlets came in June, shortly after the province re-introduced single step certification for unions.

The rules mean that if more than 55 per cent of a workplace votes to sign union cards, they automatically become certified with the B.C. Labour Relations Board.

Travis calls the move a "positive step" for workers seeking to collectively organize. 

But she said there are still several barriers to widespread unionization in the sector.