Hotel labour dispute forces cancellation of Surrey, B.C., writers’ conference

British ColumbiaThe union representing the hotel workers, who have been striking since July 5, says their wages have flat-lined while the cost of living has continued to increase.Workers at Sheraton Vancouver Guildford have been striking since July 5, demanding higher wagesCourtney Dickson · CBC News · Posted: Aug 26, 2025 12:55 PM EDT | Last Updated: 37 minutes agoThe annual Surrey International Writers’ Conference has been cancelled for 2025, amid a labour dispute at the hotel that was meant to host it. (Surrey International Writers’ Conference)A longstanding gathering for writers from around the world has been cancelled due to a labour dispute at the B.C. hotel where it was scheduled to take place. The Surrey International Writers’ Conference in Metro Vancouver, which draws about 700 people to the region annually, says on its website the event has been cancelled for 2025. As it was scheduled for Oct. 24 to 26, organizers say it was too late to find another venue. “We are heartbroken,” a statement on the conference website reads.Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford hotel began strike action on July 5, according to Unifor Local 3000, the union that represents 120 full-time and 24 part-time striking workers, including room attendants, front desk staff, maintenance workers, banquet servers and kitchen workers. Workers at the Sheraton Vancouver Guildford have been on strike since July 5. (Google Maps)The union says members have been without a contract since April 2024, and have been bargaining with the employer for more than a year. Higher wages are the priority, according to the union. “Wages at this hotel have flat-lined while rent, groceries, and gas have soared,” union president Adrian Burnett said in a news release. “Our members are scraping by while a wealthy ownership group tries to nickel-and-dime them. This strike is the direct result of that imbalance.”The hotel, located in Surrey, B.C.’s Guildford neighbourhood, is owned by Pacific Reach Properties. CBC News has contacted the company for comment. The writers’ conference has been a fixture in both Surrey and the literary community since 1993, attracting both local writers and international authors like Diana Gabaldon, who wrote the Outlander series. The conference website says the event will return in 2026. ABOUT THE AUTHORCourtney Dickson is an award-winning journalist based in Vancouver, B.C.