Archive for category: Updates

Airport Workers Move One Step Closer to Job Security

February 16, 2011

Airport workers came out in full force last Friday to support House Bill 1832 in front of the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development in the Washington State House of Representatives. Four days later, the Committee voted to move the bill forward for possible consideration by the entire House of Representatives.

House Bill 1832 is a win-win solution for workers, business, travelers, and the Port of Seattle. Workers keep their jobs, and the Port of Seattle retains highly experienced and dedicated workers. The Port of Seattle also benefits from the bill because they are guaranteed smooth transitions between service contracts and a reduced risk of labor disputes.

Geomar Nicolo, a bartender for over 15 years, spoke on behalf of UNITE HERE! Local 8 members in front of the Committee.

“My family has a better life because of my job as a bartender at SeaTac airport,” testified Geomar. “I am able to support my wife and my three kids because I know I can count on my employment at SeaTac airport.”

The bill would affect up to 1,500 workers at SeaTac Airport, many of whom could lose their jobs if the Port of Seattle contracts with new management companies to take over existing operations. The bill requires that any new company contracting with the Port of Seattle must retain the existing workforce, some of whom have worked at SeaTac Airport for decades.

The recent Committee vote is just the first push in a campaign to provide a stable business climate and job security for workers at SeaTac Airport. The next major step for HB 1832 would be a full vote of the State House of Representatives, after which the legislation would go on to the State Senate.

Check back for more information as we continue our campaign. If you are an airport worker and would like to get involved, contact Cindy Richardson at 206-470-2982.

Airport Workers Stand Up to the Port of Seattle

Airport concessions workers are turning up the heat for real job security. Local 8 members have begun meeting with Port of Seattle commissioners to discuss their future at the airport.

Airport workers have also taken action by circulating a petition to demand that the Port do the right thing and give us real job security. Without job retention being a part of all concessions lease agreements, a new company could do business in the airport and bring in a whole new group of workers. We are fighting to protect our jobs and the standards that we recently won in a great new contract.

If you are an airport worker and have not had a chance to sign the petition, please contact Cindy Richardson at 206-470-2982 and she will tell you who is circulating it in your unit.

Check out the January 2011 Local 8 Newsletter.

Judge rules against corporate effort to block minimum wage increase

December 29, 2010, The Seattle Times

A Kittitas County judge Wednesday rejected a request to halt a 12-cent increase to the state’s minimum wage that takes effect this weekend.

Superior Court Judge Scott Sparks ruled against the summary judgment request made by a coalition of business groups that sued the state last month over the decision to raise the minimum wage to $8.67 an hour.

The groups opposed to the increase argue that the minimum wage can’t be increased in 2011 because this year’s Consumer Price Index did not reflect a net increase in the cost of living since 2008. A voter initiative ties the state’s minimum wage to the index.

The coalition opposed to the increase includes the Washington Farm Bureau, the Washington Restaurant Association and the Washington Retail Association.

Click here to read the rest of the article.

Seattle Arctic Club Workers Ratify First Contract

December 21, 2010

Hotel workers at the Doubletree Arctic Club Hotel in Downtown Seattle ratified their first ever Union contract. The agreement provides workers with wage increases, free health coverage for individuals, safe workloads for housekeepers, as well as job security protections through a no subcontracting pledge from the employer.

The ratification vote marked the end of a long bargaining process that began over a year ago. The workers won union recognition in September of 2009, and have since worked hard to earn a strong first collective bargaining agreement. UNITE HERE Local 8 represents housekeepers, cooks, dishwashers, servers, banquet, front desk, and bell positions at the hotel. Read more

COMMUNITY BRIEFING: Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport Negotiations, Thursday, December 16, 12pm

Support Workers’ Fight for Job Security Protections

Join UNITE HERE! Local 8 and our members at the Red Lion Hotel Seattle Airport for a “Happy Holidays to ALL” community briefing on Thursday, December 16th at 12:00 pm in front of the Red Lion.  We will update our allies on the Red Lion workers’ fight for job security protections after more than six months of negotiations. Read more

Largest Rally in Recent Tacoma History

On August 10th, Local 8 members and over 200 labor activists and community leaders held one of the largest hotel worker rallies in recent Tacoma history. The exciting rally took place at Tollefson Plaza, located next to the Tacoma Courtyard Marriott. The labor community made it clear that the non-union Marriott, as well as other Tacoma hotels, need to stop paying low wages, providing unaffordable health benefits, and using the economy as an excuse to pressure workers to do more for less.

A group of community delegates entered the hotel lobby and presented a “Downtown Tacoma Hotel Workers Bill of Rights” to management, an opportunity to commit to providing their employees fair wages, affordable health insurance, and a voice on the job (click here to sign the online petition). Not surprisingly, the Hollander family, who owns the Marriott, refused to make this commitment to their workers and to the Tacoma community. On the other hand, the nearby Hotel Murano made the commitment to the “Downtown Tacoma Hotel Workers’ Bill of Rights.”

Despite receiving public subsidies to build their hotel, the Hollanders have been unwilling to provide their employees with living wage jobs pursuant to the bill of rights. After giving the Hollanders several opportunities to do the right thing, we have launched a “Do Not Patronize” campaign at the Tacoma Courtyard Marriott. We are urging Tacoma City Council to support the workers as well as their community. After all, hotel workers who earn good wages and benefits have more money to spend locally!

Check out the January 2011 Local 8 Newsletter.