San Francisco, CA – Rank and file negotiating committee and leaders of UNITE HERE Local 2 announced today a suspension of the boycott of the Westin St. Francis Hotel, in response to the hotel owner’s announcement that they support key provisions the union has been pushing for in contract negotiations. Earlier this week, the Blackstone Group, the firm that owns the St. Francis, stated that they are prepared to accept a contract that includes the following:

• an August 2006 expiration;
• modest wage increases;
• increased contributions to the health and welfare fund that will guarantee continued fully-funded care for hotel workers and their families; and
• pension improvements

The suspension of the boycott of the St. Francis is effective immediately. Starting next week, boycott committee members will contact meeting planners and hotel customers they have been in contact with to inform them of the union’s decision and to encourage them to patronize the St. Francis.

Hotel Workers Labor Day Rally and Demonstration
Monday, September 5, 2005 at 11:45 a.m.
Grand Hyatt San Francisco ( Stockton at Sutter)

In the Union’s announcement, it was emphasized that the boycott of the other 13 Multi-Employer Group hotels continues. Those hotels are the: Argent, Crowne Plaza Union Square, Fairmont San Francisco, Four Seasons San Francisco, Grand Hyatt, Hilton, Holiday Inn Civic Center, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Fisherman’s Wharf, Hyatt Regency San Francisco, Mark Hopkins, Omni San Francisco, and Sheraton Palace. The union will continue to inform the public regarding the on-going boycott of the 13 hotels which will be the focus of a Labor Day rally and demonstration this Monday.