 |
|
  UNITE HERE welcomes inquiries from the media regarding our Hotel Workers Rising Campaign. For more information, see our press releases, fact sheets, and press kit below. If you have questions, or want to arrange interviews with hotel workers and union leaders, please contact Annemarie Strassel. |
 Annemarie Strassel UNITE HERE |
 As Labor Faces Turning Point, UNITE HERE National Convention Opens 2009-06-29 // BeyondChron  UNITE HERE, best known for its Hotel Workers Rising campaign and successful organizing of the nation's gaming industry, opens its national convention in Chicago today. When the event was scheduled, it seemed a perfect occasion for celebrating five years of increased union membership in its core jurisdictions, despite tough economic times. Instead, UNITE HERE's celebration is joined by its now facing competition in its core jurisdictions from SEIU. As UNITE HERE Local 2 President Mike Casey puts it, "SEIU is trying to be the company union in our industries, so we are battling both SEIU and employers." President Barack Obama has been such a strong backer of UNITE HERE that in 2007 he walked its Congress Hotel picket line and vowed to return after winning the presidency. But SEIU's attacks on its one-time close ally have undermined labor's efforts to push a unified platform under its long-awaited pro-union president, weakening the campaign for passing the Employee Free Choice Act (EFCA). The convention should illuminate how other unions view this fight, and whether SEIU will soon find itself not just opposed by UNITE HERE but by much of the labor movement. Full story 
Indianapolis hotel workers unite2009-06-24 // Nuvo When President Barack Obama spoke at the Westin last month, the downtown hotel's former doorman, William Selm, received a special invitation to attend. Full story
Hotel Workers Rally for Wage Disclosure in CIB Bailout 2009-06-22 // WIBC Ten Indianapolis hotel workers have rallied at the statehouse to push for a wage-disclosure provision in the Capital Improvement Board bailout. House Democrats inserted a provision in the bill requiring five downtown hotels to make public what they pay their workers. The CIB is seeking tax hikes to support the operation of the Convention Center. Supporters argue that creates a duty for hotels with skywalk connections to the center -- the Westin, Hyatt, Embassy Suites, Marriott, and a new Marriott Center under construction -- to show the public the nature of the jobs they've been touting. UNITE HERE argues the provision would shine a light on a system in which some Indianapolis hotel jobs pay five or 10 dollars an hour less than the same job at a unionized hotel in the same chain. Full story
Hotel housekeeper has challenging role in vital industry2009-06-18 // Market Watch Margarita Aldama starts her working day by loading her cart up with piles of linens, cleaning supplies, soaps and shampoos. She pushes the heavy cart down the hallways of the 11th floor of the Hyatt Santa Clara, and knocks on the hotel room doors of people who could be some of Silicon Valley's most distinguished guests. If the room is occupied, she moves on to the next door. If the room is empty, Aldama goes in and begins the work that she must repeat 17 times in eight hours: she wipes down the sink and scrubs the tub clean, lifts the mattress -- or mattresses, if the room's a double -- to neatly tuck in the sheets, then vacuums the carpet and dusts the LCD flat panel TV and iPod dock. For this work she is paid $11.58 an hour. Last year, she made $17,000. Full story
For the news archive and more articles about Hotel Workers Rising, click here |
 |
|
| Hotel Industry and Record Profits Why Hotel Housekeeping is Dangerous Work |
(To view these files you will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software - click here to download.) |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
