Workers at Victoria Event Centre unionize

Working conditions main reasons for joining: UFCW

Workers at Victoria Event Centre unionize
The Victoria Event Centre is operated by the Victoria Multicultural Society. Google Street View

Hospitality workers at the Victoria Event Centre (VEC) in Victoria voted overwhelmingly to joining the United Food and Commercial Workers union (UFCW) Canada, Local 1518 on Nov. 16.

Lack of workplace standards, poor working conditions and sexual harassment were just some of the reasons VEC workers unionized, according to the union.

“While the VEC does better than many employers to promote a safe and harassment-free workplace, we voted to join the union to keep the standards we have and continue to build for the future,” says Shelby Gerrath, a bartender and front-of-house supervisor at VEC.

The Victoria Event Centre is operated by the Victoria Multicultural Society, a non-profit organization that promotes diversity, arts and community through performance and celebration. The venue is part of Victoria’s growing downtown night scene, showcasing experimental and emerging artists along with dance parties and festivals for the past 16 years, says UFCW.

UFCW, Local 1518 represents 24,000 members working in the community health, service, retail, industrial, and professional sectors across British Columbia.

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