Physical Therapists Ignore Ailing Workers

Two groups of physical therapists, the American Physical Therapy Association (APTA) and its local affiliate the Physical Therapy Association of Washington (PTWA) have business scheduled at the Grand Hyatt Seattle in upcoming months.

Both groups are well aware that workers have called for a boycott of the hotel to fight abuse. But PTWA leadership has not agreed to meet a Hyatt worker to hear about why they called for a boycott. Events have suffered low attendance when taking place at these boycotted venues.

Workers at the Grand Hyatt Seattle and Hyatt at Olive 8 called for a boycott nearly a full year ago, after years of struggling for dignity and respect on the job.

Olympic PT of Washington, a local firm with locations throughout the Seattle area, has many practitioners involved in APTA and PTWA. Olympic PT is the Official Medical Provider of the U.S. Snowboard Team, the U.S. Ski Team, and Seattle Storm.

Olympic PT has remained silent about APTA and PTWA violating the boycott. The founder J’Anna Post lives in the Seattle area.

Four non-profits have moved events out of the boycotted Seattle Hyatts in support of the workers, including local women’s shelter API Chaya. The boycott has been endorsed by over 30 local and statewide non-profits, including the Washington State Democratic Party. The Washington State Bar Association has committed not to return to either boycotted hotel.