Airport Workers Move One Step Closer to Job Security

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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.

Hotels

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Check out UNITE HERE’s Union Hotel Guide for up to date information.

SEATTLE DOWNTOWN

BEST WESTERN EXECUTIVE INN
206-448-9444
200 Taylor Avenue N.
Seattle, WA 98109

BEST WESTERN LOYAL INN
206-682-0200
2301 8th Avenue
Seattle WA, 98121

DOUBLETREE ARCTIC CLUB HOTEL
206-340-0340
700 3rd Avenue
Seattle WA, 98104

THE EDGEWATER
206-728-7000
 2411 Alaskan Way – Pier 57
Seattle, WA 98121

HILTON SEATTLE
206-624-0500
1301 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

THE WESTIN SEATTLE
206-728-1000
 1900 5th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98101

WASHINGTON ATHLETIC CLUB (Private Club)

(206) 622-7900
1325 6th Avenue
Seattle, WA 98109

SEATAC AIRPORT

DOUBLETREE HOTEL SEATTLE AIRPORT
206-439-6105
18740 International Blvd.S.
Seattle, WA 98188
 
HILTON SEATTLE AIRPORT & CONFERENCE CENTER
206-244-4800
17620 International Blvd
Seattle, WA 98188

RED LION HOTEL SEATTLE AIRPORT
206-246-5535
Seattle, WA 98188
18220 International Blvd

TACOMA

THE HOTEL MURANO (Formerly SHERATON TACOMA)
253-238-8000
1320 Broadway Plaza
Tacoma, WA 98402

OLYMPIA

RED LION HOTEL OLYMPIA
306-943-4000
 2300 Evergreen Park Dr.
Olympia, WA 98502

WENATCHEE

COAST WENATCHEE CENTER HOTEL AND CONVENTION CENTER
509-662-1234
201 N. Wenatchee
Wenatchee, WA 98801

Airport Workers Stand Up to the Port of Seattle

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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.

Politics and Workers’ Power

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Local 8 Newsletter, January 2011

Politics is an integral part of worker power, because elected officials can make a huge difference in our lives.

For example, in 2006 and 2007, the support of community groups and politicians helped us win the best hotel Union contract in the history of Local 8 at the Westin Seattle.

In the next several years, Port of Seattle Commissioners will decide who runs food service concessions at the airport and whether long-term Union members will keep their jobs, wages and benefits. The King County Council and Seattle City Council will have a say in whether the hotel industry grows in a workerfriendly direction.

For all those reasons, it is our goal at Local 8 to increase and improve our efforts to create a political program that builds power for workers in the hospitality industry. In a big step in that direction, Melody Swett, shop steward at the Westin Seattle, agreed to join our Union’s political team for this past election season. Because of her work, we were able to register more members to vote than ever before, get committee leaders and shop stewards involved in our electoral campaign work, increase our voter turnout and show key candidates that we are serious about supporting them and their field campaigns.

We helped defeat the antiworker initiative 1082, which would have privatized our workers’ compensation insurance system for on-the-job injuries, we helped re-elect Senator Patty Murray, and we made a difference in many smaller local races. The experience of running a comprehensive political program this year will help us be ready for the 2011 election season, when many important local races will be on the ballot while we negotiate union contracts in all major King County union hotels.

Download the January 2011 Local 8 Newsletter.

Local 8 Newsletter, January 2011

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Download the January 2011 Local 8 Newsetter: English : Spanish : Chinese

Dear Local 8 member,

In a show of worker power, over 1,400 hotel workers in King County will renegotiate their union contracts in the summer of 2011. We successfully lined up our hotel union agreements to expire at the same time in order to maximize our strength. We have an exciting year to look forward to.

The hospitality industry’s response to the economic crisis has been to cut back staffing and make workers do more work with less resources and less time available. Now, despite forecasts stating that the hotel industry will return to record profits in 2012 and 2013, employers are trying to permanently lock workers into this recession. As a response, UNITE HERE members in cities like San Francisco, Chicago, Honolulu and Los Angeles, and other cities are fighting back. They are determined to only accept contracts that strengthen their union, give them a fair share in the economic recovery, and allow non-union workers to organize.

We have an opportunity to join their struggle in 2011.

In order to win and improve standards in our region, we have to continue building our union in every workplace. By challenging employers through worker delegations and jobsite actions, we are in control and we change the power dynamic at work. When we stand up at the jobsite together, we win. This collective strength will then give us the power we need at the bargaining table.

You may have noticed that we started early to prepare for the upcoming fights. Key leaders at every jobsite have already joined the union committee and many more will follow in the coming months.

But in order to lift hotel workers back up into the middle class, we need to do more than just renegotiate existing union contracts. We all, members and staff alike, have to fight together for union growth and make organizing the unorganized our top priority. More than any other factor, the quality of hotel jobs in the Puget Sound region will depend on our efforts to bring more workers into our union. Strength in numbers will be necessary to stop cutbacks and win better wages, benefits, workload protections, and respect on the job.

I am excited to continue working with you to make the hospitality industry a better place to work.

In solidarity,
Erik Van Rossum
Secretary Treasurer, UNITE HERE Local 8

Download the January 2011 Local 8 Newsetter: English : Spanish : Chinese

Hotel Workers Rising

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The only hope we have of real, long-term economic recovery depends on the creation of more good, middle-class jobs, with decent wages and healthcare our families can afford. That’s why thousands of workers bargaining for contracts across North America are joining together.

Nationwide, the hotel industry is rebounding faster and stronger than expected, but leaders in the industry like Hyatt, Hilton, Starwood and Westmont Hospitality are proposing long-term concessionary contracts that aim to make the recession permanent for thousands of hotel workers. Proposals by big hotel companies in several cities would result in the elimination of quality health care for thousands of low-wage workers.

Employers are using the economy as an excuse to slash jobs in the hotel industry, leaving many unemployed and creating burdensome working conditions for those who remain. As a result, many longtime hotel workers are struggling to provide for their families, while others are getting injured on the job.

As big hotel companies stand poised for a major rebound, thousands of hotel workers are organizing to ensure that jobs return to this important service industry and workers share in future prosperity of the hotels.