Hotel Workers United Update: DC, LA, SF

Hotel Workers United Update

Washington's Hotel Fight Heats Up in DC!

DC hotel workers and community supporters march in DC on December 15.

With the holidays over and the 2nd Inauguration of George W. Bush fast approaching, D.C.'s union hotel workers will be stepping up the pressure on hotel management to get a fair citywide hotel contract. UNITE HERE Local 25 members have been negotiating with the hotels since August of 2004 and have been working without a contract since September 15th when their contract expired. Although negotiations continue today, workers remain far apart from management over issues like management's demand for a 2-tier health system and an inadequate pension plan. With many visitors coming into town, now is the time to send a strong message to D.C. hotels that community and labor allies support the right of DC hotel workers to win a fair contract! Workers will begin informational picketing at the 14 downtown hotels as early as next week to let the public and guests know about their struggle. Workers may also strike the hotels before the Inauguration in order to win a fair contract.

Los Angeles Hotel Boycott

The boycott of the 9 hotels in Los Angeles has put significant pressure on the Employers' Council as a growing number of customers are honoring the boycott of nine upscale LA hotels. Since the boycott was announced, more than 60 events have been moved from the hotels. Organizations that moved events out of the boycotted hotels include the Laborers International Union, the Producers Guild of America, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences, the Directors Guild of America, the American Society of Cinematographers, and the Writers Guild of America. The entertainment industry has been very supportive of the hotel workers and facilitated moving a number of events from boycotted hotels. Under boycott are Hyatt Regency Hotel Los Angeles, Hyatt West Hollywood, Millennium Biltmore Hotel, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Sheraton Universal Hotel, St. Regis Hotel, Westin Bonaventure Hotel, Westin Century Plaza Hotel, and Wilshire Grand Hotel.

San Francisco Negotiations Resume

Bargaining between the hotels and the union resumed on Thursday and Friday of this week. While management had made some movement on their health care proposal during the previous negotiating session, they continued to propose eligibility cuts to various job classifications. The union is expected to make a counter-proposal this week. Next week, Jan 10, 11, 12 and 14th, David Bacon's Labor Report on KPFA's Morning Show airs a special series on restaurant workers in San Francisco. Tune into KPFA at 94.1 FM (or at http://www.kpfa.org) from 8:08-8:28am, Pacific time, everyday next week (except Thursday) to find out. For more information, visit http://www.unitehere2.org

For more information about the hotel workers' struggle, visit

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http://www.hotelworkersunited.org
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http://www.hotellaboradvisor.info
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http://www.unitehere.org