Hotel workers stage sit-in at Hyatt (solidarity in Chicago)

[Omaha Steve]

http://transitional.pww.org/article/view/17094/

Hotel workers stage sit-in at Hyatt

Author: John Wojcik
People's Weekly World Newspaper, 09/25/09 16:24


Hotel workers and supporters commit civil disobedience in front of the Hyatt corp., Chicago, Sept. 24. Photo by ProgressIllinois.com


CHICAGO – About 200 hospitality workers and supporters were arrested here Sept. 24 as part of a civil disobedience action in the streets outside the Hyatt Hotel and corporate headquarters. Those who participated in the sit-in, blocking rush hour traffic for more than an hour, were cheered on by almost 1,000 demonstrators who jammed the sidewalks in front of and across the street from the hotel. All those arrested were bussed to a special police facility where they were given citations and released.

The largest civil disobedience action by workers here in many years came less than a year after other workers in Chicago made history last winter by occupying a window and door factory after the owner shut it down.

The sit-in was organized by Unite Here Local 1, the union that represents 15,000 hotel and food service workers in Chicago and casino workers in Northwest Indiana. The action came amid escalating labor disputes with Chicago hotels and growing public backlash against Hyatt hotels for the recent firing of 100 housekeepers in Boston. Unite Here Local 1 is in contract negotiations with hotel employers, including the Hyatt. Their contract expired Aug. 31.

Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick confirmed Sept. 25 that he has ordered state employees to stop doing business with Hyatt hotels until it rehires the fired workers. Hyatt fired the workers and brought in lower-paid replacements the laid-off workers had trained.

Reflecting the national nature of the outrage, 92 hotel workers in San Francisco were arrested in a simultaneous civil disobedience action, also on Sept. 24.

The protests capped months of anger in the ranks of hotel workers here and around the country who are criticizing their employers for driving down wages, increasing workloads, cutting health benefits and jobs.

FULL story and youtube at link.

[DJ13]

1. My wife is a maid at a local hotel

When she started there 5 years ago the same company had owned the place for 30 years.

They provided free buffet lunches, had generous paid days off, and raises were common place.

Well over half the staff had worked there for over 20 years.

Then 3 years ago that company sold the business to a vulture capital group and they told everyone their length of service was reset to zero.

Since then theres no more buffet, they had to work (again) for the first year the group owned the business to re-qualify for any vacation days, and pay has only gone up .25c in those 3 years.

After 5 years of back breaking labor on the job my wife still only makes .50c above minimum wage.

In fact they told everyone just last month that there would be no raises at all for at least another year.

This industry is in serious need of unionization, as the owners know they can squeeze their lowest paid people for every penny to keep profits up.

[midnight]

2. Your wife's story makes me so angry. This is what is so wrong with

doing business where people are treated like they don't matter. I hope for your wife and others like her that they do unionize. If ever there was a time it is now.

[midnight]

3. My prayers are with these people. I hope they stay safe.