Monterey, November 23: The Monterey Bay Travelodge last week entered into a settlement agreement with the National Labor Relations Board to resolve pending unfair labor practice charges.

On October 28, 2004, the Regional Office of the National Labor Relations Board announced that it would prosecute a Government complaint against the Travelodge, unless the Travelodge agreed to settle. The Regional Office found merit in the following charges brought by UNITE HERE Local 483:

• that the Travelodge had unlawfully forbidden pro-union workers from handing out union literature;

• that the Travelodge had maintained illegal rules in its Employee Handbook that restricted workers’ ability to discuss union organizing.

Although the Travelodge refused to admit that it violated the law, the settlement requires it to refrain from such conduct in the future, to change its Employee Handbook, and to post a federal notice in the workplace for two months assuring workers of their rights.

“No one is above the law,” said Leonard O’Neill, Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 483. “Workers have a legal right to exercise their union rights without interference from management. This settlement shows that the Travelodge must respect the law.”

Also last week, UNITE HERE Local 483 announced a boycott of the Monterey Bay Travelodge at a rally in front of the hotel that drew over 100 supporters. The next rally for the Travelodge workers is scheduled for Wednesday, November 24, at noon, when Local 483 will donate hams and turkeys to the 13 Travelodge workers for the Thanksgiving holidays.