For immediate release
May 12, 2011
Mark Weller
(831) 375-2246, cell (831) 229-2448
Asilomar Workers and Supporters Rally to Protest Injuries and 5-Year Wage Freeze
Pacific Grove, CA. Dozens of UNITE HERE Local 483 hotel members will rally in support of the Asilomar Conference Grounds workers today, Thursday, May 12, from 5:00 to 6:00 p.m. at the main gate entrance, Sinex Avenue and Asilomar Boulevard, Pacific Grove. The workers, fighting for a fair labor contract, will be joined by community supporters.
Two issues are currently at the forefront of these hotel workers’ concerns:
1. Onerous workloads. Since ARAMARK took over operations in October 2009, the Asilomar housekeeper injury frequency is 3.3 times greater than the injury rate found for housekeepers at hotels across the nation in the February 2010 American Journal of Industrial Medicine study "Occupational injury disparities in the US hotel industry." For a summary of Asilomar housekeeper injuries under ARAMARK management, please see http://www.unitehere483.org/?p=227.
Wilma Cook, 9-year Asilomar housekeeper commented: "ARAMARK increased the number of rooms we have to clean. It’s wearing us down – faster and faster, bending, lifting, scrubbing. We have to fight back to protect our bodies and our ability to work!"
2. 5-Year wage freeze. Fortune 500 company ARAMARK is demanding another 5 years of frozen wages for Asilomar workers, who have not received an increase since May 2009.
"No wage increase for 5 years — I couldn’t believe my ears!" said 4-year Asilomar grounds worker, Richard "Chuck" Smith. "We are struggling as it is, but no raises for 5 more years? That will kill us. We can’t stand for it!"
ARAMARK is a Fortune 500 company based in Philadelphia. It reports $12.6 billion in sales revenue and more than $1 billion in profits for fiscal 2010.
Founded in 1937, UNITE HERE Local 483 represents 1,300 Monterey Bay area hospitality workers at two dozen hotels, restaurants, cafeterias, and golf courses.