Our Members at Work: Mike Mantello

At the Thunder Bay Valhalla Inn, guests are often greeted by UFCW Local 175 member Mike Mantello.

Mike is a long-time member of the Union, who has been employed at the Valhalla Inn for 34 and a half years.

As a Guest Services Agent, Mike’s job requires interpersonal skills, a welcoming demeanor, and the ability to react and respond to guests’ inquiries with skill and knowledge. These same skills serve Mike well as a Union Steward, too.

What drove Mike to become a Union Steward? “Being a senior member at the hotel, it became apparent to me that the staff members were looking up to me, asking me questions and bringing their concerns to me,” said Mike.

“At the time, there was a shortage of Union Stewards at the hotel and I became interested in the position. My fellow Steward Joe Sgambelluri helped me and guided me with that decision and to this day, is still a big help whenever I need it.”

As a Union Steward, Mike enjoys helping members when it comes to their rights and getting answers for them when they need them.

Job security, having a collective agreement with fair wages and health benefits, and knowing that the rights of every worker at the hotel are respected, are the reasons Mike believes it is important to belong to UFCW Local 175.

It was a tough round of bargaining after COVID for our last collective agreement,” said Mike. “It took a while to reach an agreement, but with Tracy (Union Rep/Director) and Joe, we got it done.

The role of Guest Services Agent is a full day of work, and Mike starts each day expecting the unexpected.

The morning shift gets a briefing from the audit staff that includes any late-night goings-on or any problems the staff might encounter in the next shift. Departures and arrivals for the day are reviewed, and staff are made aware of any specific requests so they can get everything ready for the day ahead.

“My co-workers, and not just in my department but across the other areas of the hotel, are the best part about working here,” said Mike. “We do our best to give the guests a great hotel experience. There is a lot going on behind the scenes. We often juggle a number of issues at a time, and know that we can’t please everyone all the time.”

The limited amount of travel going on during the pandemic had a significant impact on workers in the hospitality industry. “All the restrictions made it harder to communicate with people, and we weren’t able to provide the same level of services as usual,” said Mike.

Emerging from most COVID health measures has brought back a sense of normalcy to the hotel. “The guests are coming back and our meeting spaces are being booked,” said Mike. “We miss some of the staff members who had to move on to other opportunities, different locations, and some went back to school.”

While the restrictions in place during the pandemic have been removed, Mike still asks the members at the hotel to test themselves if they are sick, and to wear a mask for a couple of days upon returning to work.

“It was great to see co-workers returning to the hotel,” said Mike. “I think we work closer as a unit now.”

Thank you, Mike, for being a valued member of UFCW Local 175 and for the years of support and guidance you've provided for your co-workers.