Hotel workers at One King West Hotel and Residence are reportedly seeking wage increases to align with the compensation standards negotiated by UNITE HERE Local 75 across Toronto’s unionized hotel sector.
Photo by Daniel Janvier, UNITE HERE Local 75.
The union, which represents more than 8,000 hospitality workers in the region, established a city-wide standard in 2024 following a series of coordinated negotiations with major hotel employers. According to UNITE HERE Local 75, employees at One King West earn approximately $2 per hour less than their counterparts at other unionized hotels.
Negotiations between the union and the hotel began in February 2025. In the months since, the property has received a TripAdvisor 2025 Traveller’s Choice Award and was nominated for a 2025 Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Award.
One King West operates under a multi-entity ownership and management structure. The property is owned by Toronto Standard Condominium Corporation 1703 (TSCC 1703), which represents more than 500 individual unit owners. Staffing for front desk, security and maintenance operations is handled by King-Yonge Suites, a TSCC 1703 subsidiary. A separate entity, Events at One King West, manages the remaining hotel operations.
UNITE HERE Local 75 has raised concerns regarding transparency in financial reporting during bargaining and has called on the hotel to match the wage and benefit terms secured elsewhere in the sector. The hotel has not publicly commented on the ongoing negotiations.
The union has also noted that One King West management expressed concern that adopting the city-wide standard could lead to some condominium owners withdrawing their units from the hotel’s rental program. UNITE HERE has disputed the likelihood of such a development based on past trends.
Discussions between the parties are ongoing.
The following statement was provided by a representative of One King West Hotel & Residence:
“Between 2019 and 2024, our employees received substantial increases to their wages. In this round of bargaining, the Hotel currently has two offers on the table. One offer would result in gratuity eligible employees receiving a $4 increase to their hourly rates over the course of a four-year collective agreement, while non-gratuity eligible employees would receive a $6.20 increase to their hourly rates for the same period. This is the same wage increase as was agreed to by this Union at numerous other downtown Toronto hotels, including but not limited to large brand-name hotels. Unlike those other downtown Toronto hotels, One King West Hotel & Residence is an independent hotel that receives no financial support from a large brand. This is a substantial offer, and we will continue to work with the Union to reach a fair and equitable agreement for our team members and One King West Hotel & Residence.”
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