Archive for category: Updates

We Are One: Rallies in Tacoma and Seattle

April 4, 2011

“We Are One!” protests continued this week around the United States. On April 4th, the 43rd anniversary of the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Memphis, TN hundreds of union members and allies gathered in Seattle and Tacoma in the pouring rain to fight back against the attack on working people around the United States.

Dr. King had traveled to Memphis, TN in support striking sanitation workers and gave this remarkable speech the day before his assassination.

UNITE HERE! Local 8 stood in solidarity with workers in Wisconsin, Ohio and Indiana, and in all the other places where the economic crisis caused by Wall Street and large corporations is used as an excuse to squeeze workers and lock them into the recession permanently.

Pledge to Support the Downtown Tacoma Hotel Worker Bill of Rights

The hotel industry is part of our local community fabric. We stimulate the local economy by welcoming guests to our region, making sure they have a memorable stay and come back again, and by creating high quality jobs needed to build a thriving community.

We are committed to investing in the Tacoma Community by providing high quality jobs with excellent benefits to our employees. We pledge to abide by the following minimum standards to ensure hotel workers in Tacoma can provide for their families, enjoy a safe work environment, and are able to invest their hard earned income back into their local community.

  • If our employees work more than 80 hours per month, they will have guaranteed access to a high quality, full -family medical insurance plan at a cost to the employee of no more than $50 per month.
  • We commit to providing our employees with annual wage increases so they can better cope with the increasing cost of living in Tacoma.
  • We understand that many hotels make extra profits at the expense of the health and safety of housekeepers. We will not do the same. At our hotel, no hotel room attendant will be required to clean more than 15 rooms per 8-hour shift.
  • All our employees have access to a dispute resolution process in order to resolve workplace issues and disagreements with their employer and this process will involve binding third party arbitration at no cost to the employee if either party insists on that remedy.

Download the PDF.

Sign the online petition!

Week of Action for Workers Rights!

Mark your calenders and reserve your seat to join us in solidarity with working people in Washington, Wisconsin and dozens of other states where well-funded, right-wing corporate politicians are trying to take away workers’ rights. These rallies and actions are part of a week of Solidarity from April 2nd through April 8th! CLICK HERE to download a leaflet containing information on all the events, and CLICK HERE for more information from our friends at the Washington State Labor Council.

Members Join Solidarity Rally in Olympia

On Saturday February 26th, along with other rallies across the country,  UNITEHERE! 8 members joined in support of Wisconsin workers at the State Capitol in Olympia.

In days, weeks, and months ahead, UNITE HERE will stand in solidarity with our public sector brothers and sisters across the country. Stay tuned for more updates and rallies. Read more…

Red Lion Seattle Airport Workers Overwhelmingly Approve New Contract

On February 24th, Red Lion workers voted “yes” on their new contract

Red Lion workers win! After a long campaign for respect and job security, Red Lion Seattle Airport workers have won a new, improved union contract. Worker power and community support led to strong no-subcontracting protections for restaurant and hotel workers.

The agreement was reached after workers had taken job actions and community supporters had organized and participated in rallies and even a delegation to Red Lion’s corporate headquarters in Spokane.

The agreement provides for good raises, increased pension contributions, paid sick days, and the employer will pick up all increases in health insurance costs. Hotel housekeepers also won safer workloads. They will now clean 15 instead of 16 rooms per shift.

The hotel is no longer under boycott. Please patronize the Red Lion Seattle Airport.

TAKE ACTION – Support HB 1832 – Tell Your Legislators

Click Here! to send a message to State Representatives in Support of HB 1832. The bill would guarantee workforce stability for airport workers and the Port of Seattle

http://afl.salsalabs.com/o/5872/c/951/p/dia/action/public/?action_KEY=1539