Strike at Marriott Courtyard Hotel

Union hotel workers represented by the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employee’s Union, Local Two, went on strike against the Marriot Courtyard Hotel at Fisherman’s Wharf June 1st. According to union spokesman Charley Goetchius, “The workers have not had a cost of living raise since 1998.” Housekeeping supervisor Gladys Espinosa stated that the housekeeper’s wages are a dollar an hour lower than those of other hotels and that the quota of sixteen rooms a day is two more than the industry standard. Union organizer Lorraine Powell added that a worker at this Marriott must work a minimum of 32 hours per week to qualify for health benefits, whereas the standard is sixteen hours. Many of the workers cannot meet the 32 hour a week minimum. Powell also stated that the employees lacked a pension plan, and that the contract is on a different schedule than the other hotels in San Francisco. This is the central issue: to bring the Courtyard up to industry standards for treatment of workers. The Marriott Courtyard is located at the corner of Beach and Leavenworth streets. Gladys Espinosa stated, “The strikers are in it for the long haul.” For more information, check out: http://www.marriottcourtyardstrike.org.