For immediate release
December 20, 2004
Valerie Lapin
(650) 455-3300
Candlelight Vigil for S.F. Hotel Workers
What: Leaders of the San Francisco Religious community will conduct a Candlelight Vigil to offer their spiritual support to San Francisco hotel workers, members of UNITE HERE, Local 2, who are trying to maintain affordable health insurance and who are working without at a union contract. The ceremony will be held on the winter solstice – the shortest day of the year – and will honor a time when people of different faiths traditionally celebrate holidays of light.
Clergy members of various religious affiliations will light candles, offer songs and prayers and will share their traditions.
Over 500 participants will then conduct a candlelight procession through downtown and affirm their conviction that health care is a moral right.
When: Tuesday, December 21 at 4:15pm
Where: Union Square, San Francisco
Visuals: Candles, Clergy in robes, large crowd
Why: Although the recent hotel lockout has ended, the workers still do not have a contract that guarantees affordable health care. Other outstanding issues include: pension contributions, retiree benefits, right to organize, wages and contract term.
Who: The “Spread the Light” Candlelight Vigil is sponsored by Interfaith Worker Justice, Bay Area Organizing Committee, San Francisco Organizing Project, Office of Public Policy and Social Concerns, Archdiocese of San Francisco, Interfaith Coalition for Immigrant Rights, East Bay Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, Marin Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, St. Anthony Foundation, and St. Boniface Church with the support of UNITE HERE, Local 2.