San Antonio, TX – Today, UNITE HERE and two Hyatt hotels, Grand Hyatt San Antonio and Hyatt Regency San Antonio Riverwalk, have reached an agreement on new five-year union contracts. The settlement represents the first union contracts at hotels on the San Antonio River Walk.

The new five-year agreement covering approximately 500 Hyatt employees contains regular raises, including an average annual wage increase of approximately 4% for housekeepers over the life of the contract.  UNITE HERE and the hotels also reached an agreement regarding the direct employment of certain positions that had been performed by subcontractors.

The employees at both hotels selected UNITE HERE as its representative in December 2014, and the agreements have now been ratified after good faith bargaining.

“We are pleased to reach an agreement with UNITE HERE and to move forward with our associates to provide the authentic hospitality our guests have come to expect.  We remain committed to providing a caring work environment for our associates, which includes a positive workplace environment and competitive wages and benefits,” stated Ed Bucholtz, General Manager of Grand Hyatt San Antonio.

“We continue to care for our associates so they can be their best and are committed to our common goal of being the preferred brand for associates and guests,” stated Ripton Melhado, General Manager of Hyatt Regency San Antonio.

“I work hard to make guests happy, because I depend on tips to make ends meet,” says David Macias, a Banquet Server at Grand Hyatt San Antonio. “I’m proud that Hyatt is leading the way on the River Walk in making sure we get our fair share of the tips that customers leave for us.”

About UNITE HERE
UNITE HERE represents 270,000 women and men across North America who work in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries. Learn more at www.unitehere.org.

About Grand Hyatt San Antonio
Grand Hyatt San Antonio is a premier destination in the heart of downtown.  The 1,003-room, 37-story luxury hotel, with 115,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor meeting space, is adjacent to the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center and famed San Antonio River Walk.  The hotel features a fully equipped 24-hour StayFit@Hyatt gym with heated outdoor lap pool, Bar Rojo, a casual-yet-upscale lounge experience, Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse, as well as Perks Coffee and Travel Traders.  At the Grand Hyatt San Antonio guests will find a unique blend of location, amenities and services to make their stay unforgettable.  For more information on Grand Hyatt San Antonio or Bar Rojo please call (210) 224-1234 or visit http://grandsanantonio.hyatt.com or www.barrojosa.com

About Hyatt Regency San Antonio
Hyatt Regency San Antonio is one of the Alamo City’s most luxurious downtown hotels. The AAA Four Diamond property is uniquely situated on the famous San Antonio River Walk with a premier view of the historic Alamo, connecting two of the city’s top destinations through the hotel’s 16-story atrium lobby. Guest can enjoy unsurpassed Hyatt service and amenities from swimming in the heated rooftop pool indulging in the pampering services of the DASA spa or exercising in the 24-hour Stayfit™ gym. Barbeque inspired cuisine and stylishly chic guest rooms make Hyatt Regency one of San Antonio’s premier destination hotels. For more information and reservations, visit www.sanantonioregency.hyatt.com or call 210-222-1234.