New York, NY–Workers in New York who are in the fifth month of their strike at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia, Holiday Inn JFK and Hampton Inn JFK, received good news this week when the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued complaints against the owner of the hotels. The workers at the three hotels went on strike on September 22 in response to a series of unfair labor practices from management, including firing pro-union employees. Since then they have bravely picketed in the cold and through rain and snow. The NLRB has already dismissed management’s objections to the election at the Crowne Plaza LaGuardia and certified our Union as the representative of that hotel’s employees. Similar rulings are expected to be issued regarding the other two hotels.
Milwaukee, WI–This week, the Milwaukee Public Schools Board voted unanimously to essentially adopt the City of Milwaukee Ordinance as its own no sweat Policy. This requires that all contracts for apparel be with responsible manufacturers who agree to follow a solid list of requirements as to working conditions and wages. The vote was the result of two years of ongoing talks with representatives of the Board and Administration and the leadership and personal involvement of Board President Peter Blewett and Director Thomas Balistreri.
Honolulu, HI–In preparation for potential labor disputes ahead, UNITE HERE Local 5 members overwhelmingly voted to contribute to a strike and defense fund. The series of special membership meetings on four islands concluded yesterday with 6 meetings throughout the day at Honolulu’s Blaisdell Center. By a 72% margin, union members voted to amend the union’s bylaws to include a special assessment of $10 per month on all members in the hotel and health care industries for the strike and defense fund. The $10 per month contributions will begin in January 2005 and continue through December 2006. The fund is projected to reach $2 million by the end of 2006. “Workers are under attack, employers everywhere are trying to force workers to pay for increases in medical costs,” said Eric Gill, Local 5’s Financial Secretary-Treasurer. “Health care has been at the core of almost every recent labor dispute in the country and employers are getting more aggressive. Supermarket workers in Southern California, hotel workers in San Francisco and health care workers in Northern California have all been locked-out by their employers. The vote yesterday helps us to be prepared to defend our medical benefits and to continue to fight to improve working conditions.”
On November 23, more than 500 Local 274 members in Philadelphia held a candlelight vigil and march beginning at the Radisson Plaza Warwick Hotel and ending with a rally at Love Park. The press reported crowds of more than 1,000. Hotel workers in Philadelphia are entering the eighth week of contract extensions. After numerous bargaining sessions, very little progress has been made in key areas such as comprehensive health care for hotel workers and their families, secure pensions, and fair wage increases. The rally demonstrated to the community the workers’ dedication and commitment to achieving a just and fair contract.