Almost 1,000 concession stand workers at Vancouver’s Rogers Arena will be out of work in a few months.
On March 11, the workers, at least 600 of which are members of UNITE HERE! Local 40, were notified that Canucks Sports & Entertainment were ending their relationship with Aramark Canada Ltd. Their contract with the food service management company was not slated to end until 2015.
“We’re excited about some big changes with our food and beverage program that will offer fresh and innovative new options at every event here at our arena,” said Victor de Bonis, Canucks Sports & Entertainment’s Chief Operating Officer, in a written statement. They plan on hiring 1,000 new staff for their food and beverage program.
Local 40 President Roger Demand told Metro Vancouver that most concession stand workers at Rogers Arena make between $13 and $21 an hour.
Demand pointed out that the wages paid at Rogers Arena actually enable workers to continue living in the Metro Vancouver area, which has one of the highest costs of living in the world. The Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives estimates that a living wage in Vancouver is $19.62 an hour.
UNITE HERE has not released any information about what next steps they will be taking. A representative for Aramark told CBC News that the company will dispute the early contract termination.
The arena, home to the Vancouver Canucks as well as international ice hockey events during the 2010 Olympics, also hosts numerous musical events.
Photo: flickr/ m+A+s
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