Hundreds of Organizations Declare Support for Westin Workers – Video!

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On Tuesday, October 25, leaders attending the National Immigration Integration Conference at the Westin Seattle Hotel delegated General Manager Elisabeth James in support of workers fighting for a fair contract.  Participants in the delegation, including One America Executive Director Pramila Jayapal, gave several hundred letters to the GM stating their support of a boycott of the Westin, if and when one is called.  Workers have been fighting for a fair a contract since May and they continue to stand strong for fair wages and benefits, improved sick leave and organizing rights for workers at future Starwood Hotels in King County.

Labor Day Rally for Job Security at Downtown Hilton

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When the Hilton is sold, 100 workers stand to lose their living wage jobs

One hundred Hilton workers, labor activists, and supporters gathered on Labor Day to call for job security at Seattle’s Hilton Hotel. The demonstration was organized in response to the R.C. Hedreen Company’s decision to put the Seattle Hilton up for sale without securing job protections, jeopardizing over 100 hotel jobs currently under union contract.

Ten community supporters, including 2 workers at other Seattle area hotels, were arrested as they blocked the streets to send a message about the importance of job security in the hospitality industry.

Click Here! Check out TV News coverage of the rally!

“We could be fired any day when the hotel is sold, and replaced with minimum-wage workers,” says Chuck Cruise, a second-generation bellman at the Seattle Hilton with over 20 years experience. “They have the power to save our jobs as a condition of sale, all we’re asking is that they use that power to take care of their workers. We’ve given them years of loyal service.”

Even in this tough economy, hotels continue to remain profitable through a combination of layoffs, decreased work schedules and increased workloads for staff, burdening a low-wage workforce. According to the industry’s own projections, hotels will be returning to record profits by 2012.

Real estate investment companies are recognizing the renewed profitability of hotels, particularly in Seattle, which is among the top 25 hotel markets in the country with demand at pre-recession levels. Recently, the Seattle’s Red Lion sold for $71 million to Los Angeles-based Lowe Enterprises.

Meanwhile, hotel workers at the Hilton are trying not to get stuck in the permanent recession.

UNITE HERE Local 8 is making waves all over Seattle. You can be a part of the movement for hotel justice. Stay tuned for action alerts over email or “like” us on facebook – www.facebook.com/local8.

Also, check out the recent flash mob at the Westin.

Labor Day Hotel Justice Rally

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Local 8 rally!

Labor Day

September 5th, 4pm to 6pm

Hilton Seattle

6th and University, Downtown Seattle

The Seattle Hilton owners want to sell the hotel. Jobs are at stake.

More background:

This summer, union contracts covering more than 1,400 workers have expired at Seattle-area hotels and restaurants, including the Westin and Downtown Hilton hotels.

Although both the Hilton and the Westin have made some movement toward fair contracts, management negotiators have yet to show any willingness to address the issues of most concern to the workers: job security in the form of successorship language (the Hilton is up for sale) and a guarantee of no subcontracting. Hundreds of unionized living-wage jobs are at stake. [See last week’s Huffington Post report — “As hotels outsource jobs, workers lose hold on living wage” — to learn why this issue is so important.]

With a sale possible at any moment at the Hilton Seattle, we need to act fast to save the jobs of over 100 hospitality workers. If the owners of the Hilton Seattle do not agree to a successorship agreement guaranteeing workers’ jobs by Labor Day, the worker’s committee at the Hilton has authorized UNITE HERE Local 8 to call for a boycott. Click here for more information on how you can support our pre-boycott efforts.

This Labor Day, take a stand for good jobs. You can make a difference!

Flash Mob for Worker Rights Takes Over Westin Lobby!

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LrRERI4TGAo

A flashmob infiltrates the Westin hotel in Seattle and performs an adaptation of Jessie J.’s song “Pricetag.” The event was organized to draw attention to the struggle for workers at the Westin who are organizing for a fair contract that includes livable wages, job security, safe workloads, and respect on the job, among other issues.

Check out the video and share it with your friends on facebook! Visit http://www.facebook.com/Local8.

Largest picket in SeaTac history backs area hotel workers

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SEATAC (Aug. 5) — An estimated 400 SeaTac hospitality workers and labor supporters gathered Thursday afternoon in front of the DoubleTree Hotel near the SeaTac Airport to call for livable wages, job security, and respect on the job.

This summer, union contracts covering more than 1,400 workers have expired.  The affected businesses include the Hilton and Doubletree Hotels in SeaTac, as well as the Westin, Edgewater, Seattle Hilton, Washington Athletic Club, and Space Needle Restaurant in Seattle.

“When the economy crashed, workers sacrificed along with the hotels,” said Erik Van Rossum, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 8, the union representing the workers in the campaign. “But now hotels are profitable, and they are trying to keep their workers in a permanent recession.”

During the recession, hotels continued to remain profitable through a combination of layoffs, decreased work schedules and increased workloads for staff. The hotel industry’s own projections now predict record profit levels by next year. Read more…