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Striking Windsor hotel workers from Unifor Local 195 took their message on the road, holding an information picket outside Ingersoll’s Elm Hurst Inn & Spa to call out their employer, Farhi Holdings Corporation, for refusing to bargain a fair contract.
On July 5, the hotel workers from Windsor’s Best Western Plus Waterfront hotel stood in solidarity outside the Ingersoll luxury inn, distributing flyers, speaking with the public, and demanding a return to the bargaining table.
The picket was aimed squarely at Shmuel Farhi, the wealthy property developer and owner of both the Elm Hurst Inn and the Best Western Plus Waterfront hotel, where workers have been on strike since June 1.
“These members come to the table once every three years and Farhi and his company completely failed to meet that moment. Instead of recognizing the value of these
workers, they’ve shown nothing but disrespect and disregard for their hard work and for the families who are struggling to get by,” said Emile Nabbout, President of Unifor Local 195.
Despite years of service, some with over 30 or even 40 years on the job, most of the striking workers earn just $18.02 per hour, barely above Ontario’s minimum wage. To make matters worse, the employer is demanding concessions, including the elimination of overtime pay when working six or even seven days in a row.
“Workers who have spent decades keeping these hotels running are being paid poverty wages while Farhi Holdings sits on a multimillion-dollar real estate empire,” said Unifor National President Lana Payne. “These workers are standing up for every hotel worker who’s been told to accept less while corporate profits soar. And the entire union is standing with them.”
Unifor Ontario Regional Director Samia Hashi called on Farhi, who is also the owner of multiple vacant properties in downtown London, to get back to the bargaining table.
"Farhi’s refusal to negotiate isn’t just disrespectful—it’s outrageous,” said Hashi. “He’s left empty buildings sitting in downtown London while the workers who keep his hotels spotless are fighting to survive on minimum wage. It’s time he got serious about reaching a deal.”
The Elm Hurst Inn is one of several hospitality properties under Farhi’s control, which also includes the Idlewyld Inn & Spa in London and several hotels in Windsor.
The workers, including long-serving housekeepers, laundry attendants, front desk, and maintenance staff, say they’re taking the fight directly to the owner’s doorstep and won’t back down until fairness is on the table.
Unifor is urging union members and the public to assist the striking workers by showing visible support on the picket lines, speaking out on social media, and cancelling reservations at Farhi-owned hotels.
“When hotel workers win, the whole community wins,” added Payne. “This fight is about dignity, justice, and the right to live decently after a hard day’s work. That’s something every union member can get behind.”
View the photo gallery here.
