Members of the Hospital Employees’ Union rallied at Royal Jubilee Hospital on Wednesday to push for higher wages and better working conditions.
Secretary-business manager Bonnie Pearson told a crowd of about 100 people that the union has been without a contract for eight months.
The HEU represents more than 4,400 housekeepers and food services workers employed by Acciona, Aramark, Compass, Marquise and Sodexo at health-care facilities across B.C.
Ryan Mann, who works for Compass as a housekeeper at Nanaimo Regional General Hospital, said the companies are making huge profits while failing to pay workers a living wage.
Pearson said union members make $15 an hour on average.
Compass Group regional vice-president Leta Hill declined comment while negotiations are ongoing. She said bargaining is slated to continue all this week.
