Laid-off Hotel Workers' #Fast4OurJobs Week 1 Recap!

Hi,

Hotel workers have entered the second week of "Fast for Our Jobs." Although the legislative summer session has ended, hotel workers continue to forego food on the lawn of the BC Legislature to call attention to the plight of 50,000 laid-off hotel workers who want the legal right to return to their jobs when the industry recovers. The province says no decision will be made before a provincial review of recall protections concludes on August 20.

Here's a recap of the first week of the hunger strike.

Week 1 #Fast4OurJobs Highlights!

We held the first ever car caravan around the BC Legislature (at least the first during a pandemic, as far as we know).

NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh and MP Laurel Collins, Victoria City Councillor Sharmarke Dubow, and Green Party leadership candidate Dimitri Lascaris visited our encampment and shared their support for fasting hotel workers! Vancouver City Councillor Jean Swanson also fasted in solidarity for a day outside an NDP MLA's office in Vancouver.

Hundreds of supporters have signed a petition, pledging their solidarity with laid-off hotel workers and urging the government to gives workers a legal right to return to their jobs. We delivered the petition and signatures to Labour Minister Harry Bains' office last week.

Supporters have also written letters to their MLA, asking them to do more to protect 50,000 hotel workers' jobs in BC.

And to top it off, a mariachi band visited us in the middle of the week to provide some lively tunes and uplift spirits.

Check out our video recap of last week's highlights!

Press Highlights:

• CBC: 10 hospitality workers continue hunger strike, urging government to protect jobs
• Global News: BC hotel workers start hunger strike to create awareness around industry layoffs
• CTV News (video): BC hotel workers begin hunger strike at legislature
• News 1130: Vancouver Councillor Jean Swanson fasts to support BC hotel workers' hunger strike

What's Coming Up This Week:

Fasters will lead several actions this week, including:

Tuesday, August 18: Delegations to BC MLAs

Wednesday, August 19: Rally at BC Legislature, 12 pm. Join us! RSVP here.

Thursday, August 20: Candlelight Vigil at BC Legislature (time TBA)

Friday, August 21: Press Conference (time TBA)

More details will be announced throughout the week. For the latest updates, go to our website.

Take Action!

Share this video to educate more people about the crisis facing 50,000 hotel workers on your Facebook profile page. Tag your friends and ask them to share the video to show their support for BC's hotel workers!

In solidarity,