Young replacement worker fell from the roof of the Heritage Inn in Saskatoon
Conflicting accounts have surfaced between the Heritage Inn in Saskatoon and the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW) Local 1400 following the death of a worker during an ongoing labor dispute at the hotel.
The hotel and the union have been locked in a labour dispute for 14 months, with the employer hiring multiple replacement workers to fill roles previously held by unionized staff. The worker who died was one of these replacement workers, according to Lucia Figueiredo, president of UFCW Local 1400.
Figueiredo says the union first learned about the incident around mid-October from a hotel guest. According to Figueiredo, the guest found the worker in the parking lot with injuries consistent with a fall. “We were made aware in the week of October 15,” she says. “The guest who found this poor individual reported it to us and said that there was a death here, and it was clearly a worker who had their uniform still on.”
Because the worker was not unionized, Figueiredo explains that the union lacked direct information about the employee. Despite this, the union took steps to report the incident to authorities. “We discovered that the employer, in fact, did not contact Occupational Health and Safety. They did not contact WCB,” Figueiredo states. She adds that the union acted by notifying authorities on October 31. “On October 31, we made a phone call to the director of the Occupational Health and Safety Department here in Saskatchewan that reported the fatality for the first time.”
Heritage Inn expresses condolences to the deceased worker’s family and describes the incident as a tragedy. “We are deeply saddened by the loss of our valued team member, and our thoughts and sincere condolences are with her family, friends, and colleagues during this difficult time,” the hotel’s statement reads. The hotel also asserts that management cooperated fully with the authorities, including the police, who ruled the death non-suspicious. “Hotel management and ownership participated fully in the police investigation, which was deemed non-suspicious and is now closed,” the statement confirms.
However, a point of contention lies in the issue of regulatory reporting. Figueiredo claims that Heritage Inn failed to meet its obligations under occupational safety laws. “The director of Occupational Health and Safety indicated that this was the first they had heard of it,” she says, stressing that employers are required to report fatalities within 24 hours, even if the death does not appear related to work. Heritage Inn, however, insists it followed all necessary procedures. “The coroner indicated that no reporting is required for Workers’ Compensation Board (WCB) or Occupational Health and Safety (OH&S),” the hotel says, adding that these agencies advised no further action was needed.
Both sides agree on the timing of police involvement: the authorities were contacted promptly, and the police investigation concluded that there was no foul play. Still, Figueiredo raises concerns about the safety protocols in place at the hotel, especially regarding how the worker may have accessed the roof. “We just know that there seem to be gaps in even normal safety protocols,” she says, calling for a more thorough investigation.
Heritage Inn maintains it has been transparent with authorities and reiterates its commitment to employee safety. “The safety and well-being of our employees remain a top priority, and we will continue to uphold our responsibility in ensuring a safe work environment for all,” the hotel states. The hotel has also indicated that it will not provide further public comment.
The family of the deceased worker, who are recent immigrants from Bangladesh, have sought support from the union, with Figueiredo alleging that the employer's response to the family has been inadequate. “At best, the employer has not responded to direct questions about this, and at worst, they mislead to make it seem like they are being responsible,” she contends.
Figueiredo underscores the human impact of the incident, emphasizing the loss felt by the family. “This worker was a vibrant woman, loved by her family,” she says. “It matters that she’s gone, in whatever fashion.”
As investigations continue, the tragic event remains a focal point for discussions about employer responsibilities, workplace safety, and the broader implications of labour disputes involving replacement workers.
