Workers at 16 Vancouver airport restaurants were locked out by their employer on Thursday after they held a one-day strike the previous day.
In all, 285 food-service workers employed by HMS Host are locked out.
Single mother Mary Hanisi said she was unhappy and surprised when she was told she couldn’t return to work.
“I need the job. I have been working for the company for 10 years. I was going to work, and I don’t know why they locked us out,” said Hanisi.
The employees say they walked out on Wednesday because HMS Host has refused to guarantee jobs for the employees at the YVR Milestones when it closes down and reopens as a White Spot.
Susan Goyette, HMS Host spokesperson, said the company was ready to allow the striking employees back to work if the union would commit to refraining from taking any further job action during the Olympics and Paralympics.
“We can’t have intermittent job action at the airport. We can’t have employees striking one day, going back to work the next, and deciding to strike again the day after,” said Goyette.
