WA Elected Officials Endorse Seattle Hyatt Boycott
Public support of workers at Grand Hyatt and Hyatt at Olive 8 is gaining momentum in the Democratic Party.
Senators and Representatives in Washington State are beginning to publicly support the Seattle Hyatt boycott of the Grand Hyatt and Hyatt Olive 8, where workers are fighting for dignity and respect on the job. Twelve officials, with many more considering, have pledged not to eat, sleep, meet, or speak at either hotel until the labor dispute is settled.
Seattle Hyatt workers and supporters denounce difficult working conditions and use of subcontracted workers. The hotel’s local owner, Richard Hedreen, chose not to agree to give workers access to a Fair Elections Process to decide whether or not they want a union as outlined in a recent National Agreement between the Hyatt Corporation and UNITE HERE.
The following officials have pledged their support:
State Representatives
- Brian Blake
- Cindy Ryu
- Jim Moeller
- Joe Fitzgibbon
- Steve Bergquist
- David Sawyer
- Sharon Wylie
- Ruth Kagi
- Chris Reykdal
- Mike Sells
- Jessyn Farrell
- Sam Hunt
- Larry Seaquist
- Patrick Sullivan
State Senators
- Bob Hasegawa
- Adam Kline
- Karen Keiser
- Jeanne Kohl-Wells
- Jeannie Darnielle
- Sharon Nelson
Senator Bob Hasegawa recently turned down an event at a boycotted Hyatt. Representative Ryu stated, “We will do as asked: not to meet, eat, sleep, or speak at either property.”
More support is pouring in from the wider Seattle community. Recently, the Low Income Housing Institute, a non-profit dedicated to ending homelessness, moved an event out of the Hyatt Olive 8. In addition, the MLK County Labor Council has added both boycotted hotels to their “Do Not Patronize” list. The entire Seattle City Council wrote a letter to Richard Hedreen in support of workers rights, citing that “agreeing to a process that would bring an end to the disruptive boycotts seems like a step in the right direction for you, the workers in your hotels, and the City.”
The Grand Hyatt Seattle has 425 rooms and employs approximately 200 workers. The Hyatt at Olive 8 has 350 rooms and employs approximately 200 workers.