Author Archives for Ann Kammerer
The union contract between the New York City hotel industry and the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council (HTC) is set to expire on June 30. While NYC is home to more billionaires than anywhere else in the world, working people are struggling to afford an increasingly unaffordable city. Hotel workers are just asking for enough in their new contract to pay their bills and work with dignity. And the hotel owners can afford it!
If the industry does not agree to a fair contract well before the expiration date, it’s possible that there will be strikes, pickets, and lockouts at some NYC hotels.
“A labor dispute between the hotel industry and one of New York’s most politically active unions is spilling into public view – roping in prominent politicians along the way, underscoring the organization’s influence.” —excerpt from a recent Politico newsletter.
On April 16, the Culinary Union hosted a press conference to detail how Donald Trump’s policies have impacted Las Vegas’ local economy and workers. The press conference coincided with Trump’s visit to Nevada.
Culinary Union members fought hard to win strong contracts, but those gains are being undermined by an economy tilted toward billionaires while working families fall further behind. The Culinary is calling for policies that welcome visitors, respect workers, and strengthen the state of Nevada. They’re ready to keep organizing and fighting for a real course correction.
The D.C. Chapter of Local 23 is celebrating two victories for food service workers at the U.S. House of Representatives. The boycott of CHA Street Food has come to an end, and Local 23 is applauding CHA Street Food for respecting workers’ rights and the long history of quality union food service jobs on Capitol Hill.
An agreement has also been reached on a new contract for catering workers at Capital Cravings by TCMA. Workers maintained their wages from the prior employer, along with a union pension plan, affordable union health insurance, fair staffing levels, and similar rights on the job as provided under the previous contract.
In 2009, Hyatt fired nearly 100 longtime housekeepers at three Boston-area Hyatt hotels in one of the region’s most visible labor fights. That fight ended in a 2014 settlement with Hyatt after years of organizing, protest, and boycott activity. Late last month, workers at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge carried that legacy forward by announcing their intention to unionize with Local 26!
Since then, they’ve held regular picket lines outside the hotel.
“The Hyatt 100 proved that working people in this region are not disposable,” said Local 26 President Carlos Aramayo in a statement. “Fifteen years later, workers at the Hyatt Regency Cambridge are standing up for the same thing: dignity, stability, and a fair path to form a union.”
On April 4, local 274 members at the Hilton Garden Inn Philadelphia Center City picketed their hotel for four days. The Hilton Garden Inn, owned by the real estate investment trust ACRES Commercial Realty, has recently implemented a contract proposal that includes layoffs, increased housekeeper workload, the elimination of a guaranteed eight-hour day, overtime after eight hours, and more.
Workers at the Pan Pacific Vancouver Hotel rallied to demand a fair contract, as the city prepared for a public hearing on April 14 over a proposed private floating hotel on the public waterfront.
With the FIFA World Cup and a record-breaking cruise season expected to drive massive profits, workers called on hotel owner Westmont Hospitality Group to value the world class service Local 40 members provide and agree to a fair deal.
Earlier this month, workers at Boston Veterinary Clinic got a great ruling from the NLRB ahead of their union election coming up on May 4 and 5. They are standing up to private equity-backed Mission Pet Health to protect Fear-Free standards of pet care and ensuring that staff are treated fairly and with respect. We are excited to welcome them to the UNITE HERE New England Joint Board soon.
This is about protecting Fear-Free standards of pet care and ensuring that staff are treated fairly and with respect!
Members of Local 17 showed up at the Twins home opener to let fans know that DNC at Target Field pays peanuts. Workers highlighted that some stadium employees are earning as little as minimum wage, even as game day prices continue to rise.
For some, it takes more than an hour of work just to afford a hamburger at the stadium. Workers are calling for a fair union contract that reflects the value they bring to the game day experience.
On April 13, airline catering workers employed by Flying Food Group at Los Angeles International Airport publicly shared their experiences before a Truth Commission at Holman United Methodist Church.
Hundreds of workers and community leaders came together to share powerful testimony on safety, sexual harassment, retaliation, and workplace culture.
Workers at Stauf’s Coffee Roasters and Cup O Joe in Columbus have gone public with their intent to unionize with support from Local 24. Baristas, line cooks, bakers, and warehouse workers kicked off the effort on April 1 by signing commitment cards after months of organizing.
The campaign is focused on building a collective voice on the job, protecting benefits, and creating a more stable workplace. The company has committed not to interfere with the organizing process as workers move forward with their union drive.
