Contract negotiations between Seattle’s hotel workers and their employers
heat up after several months of negotiations.

As of October 20th, the Seattle Hilton (6th Ave & University St) is under BOYCOTT. The approximately 100 unionized workers are fighting not only for a fair contract; they are standing up to demand a successorship agreement that would protect their jobs and their Union if the hotel is sold. The hotel’s owner, R.C. Hedreen, put the hotel on the market over the summer and has repeatedly rejected demands to protect workers’ jobs in the event of a sale.

“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. UNITE HERE Local 8’s members are demanding their fair share of the recovery. Seattle cannot afford to lose any more good jobs.

The boycott will be in effect until the hotel agrees to protect workers’ jobs if the hotel is sold.

Protect your next hotel event from a possible labor dispute by including force majeure language in your contract: Click here to download a pdf.

Workers at the Westin Seattle were joined by Occupy Seattle protesters to demand a fair contract at the Westin. The Westin has so far refused to comply with worker proposals that include wage and benefit improvements and job security protections.  If an agreement is not reached soon, the workers will call for a boycott of the Westin Seattle effective November 16th.

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.