The union that represents hotel workers has launched a global boycott against Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels, after three years of failed negotiations that have occasionally embroiled Chicago's LGBT community in controversy.
UNITE HERE has been leading a boycott against Chicago Hyatt hotels since August 2010, when the union and hotel chain came to a standstill in contract negotiations. Union leaders say the global launch of the boycott is largest escalation against Hyatt since that time. [Chicago protest announced: Thursday, July 26, 4:30pm, Hyatt Regency Chicago (151 E. Wacker Drive).
UNITE HERE says that the biggest sticking point remains work conditions for its housekeepers.
"What we're asking for is Hyatt to end the abuse of housekeepers," said Carly Karmel, a spokesperson for UNITE HERE Local 1 in Chicago.
The union has alleged that Hyatt forces its housekeepers to clean double the recommended number of rooms in a shift, while denying them tools that would make the job less strenuous.
But Hyatt says the boycott is a stunt to boost union membership and argues that the union has accepted contracts with the same wage and benefits proposals from other hotels as offered by Hyatt.
"While UniteHere leaders are pursuing more dues-paying members, and raising dues on Chicago members an astonishing 10 percent, Hyatt has been putting its associates first by protecting their right to a fair choice and standing ready to pay the raises they should have had three years ago," said Doug Patrick, senior vice president of human resources at Hyatt, in a statement.
The boycott has been a sore spot for Chicago's International Mr. Leather Competition, which was held at the Hyatt Regency the last two years despite the boycott. UNITE HERE had accused IML of crossing the boycott. IML countered that it was bound by an expensive contract and that no other hotel could accommodate its crowds on such short notice. IML will be held at the Marriott Chicago next year.
A major supporter of the Hyatt boycott has been renowned LGBT activist Cleve Jones, whose campaign "Sleep with the Right People" discourages LGBT people from crossing hotel boycotts.
Now Jones is joined by the National Gay and Lesbian Task Force, Feminist Majority Foundation, Pride at Work, National Women's Health Network and National Stonewall Democrats in support of the boycott. The union has also announced support from the NFL Players Association, the National Organization of Women, Netroots Nation and Interfaith Worker Justice.
Karmel said the global boycott gives voice to workers in Chicago who have been boycotting their local hotels fore three years.
However, some union Hyatt hotels around the country are under contract, said Karmel. Those hotels are exempt from the boycott.
Hotel workers have been protesting in Chicago regularly since 2010. Last July, the Park Hyatt turned its winter heat lamps on more than 60 workers who were protesting in the middle of a heat wave. The hotel shut off the lamps before temperatures peaked in the afternoon.
FROM A UNITE HERE NEWS RELEASE
Washington, DC—On Monday, July 23, 2012, a far-reaching global boycott of Hyatt hotels launches in response to the hotel company's extensive abuse of their workers and low wages. The NFL Players Association, UNITE HERE, workers, students and renowned musicians will combine forces to support theboycott, which will include a full week of demonstrations at Hyatt Hotels and other actions in 20 US cities, including Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Boston.
What: Press Conference announcing a global boycott of Hyatt Hotels forextensive worker abuse and a week of protest activities atHyatt locations in cities around the country, including Los Angeles, Honolulu, San Francisco, Chicago, Baltimore, Indianapolis and Boston. A demonstration is also planned in London, UK.
Who: MC: John Wilhelm, President, UNITE HERE Speakers:
—Richard Trumka, President, AFL-CIO
—Terry O'Neill, President, National Organization for Women (NOW)
—DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director, National Football League Players Association (NFLPA)
—Darlene Nipper, Deputy Executive Director, National Gay and Lesbian Task Force
—Deepak Bhargava, Executive Director, Center for Community Change
—Current hotel workers who can speak to Hyatt's abuses
Other Participants:
—Kim Bobo, Executive Director, Interfaith Worker Justice
—Kim Gandy, Vice President of the Feminist Majority Foundation
—Peggy Shorey, Executive Director, Pride at Work
—Jerame Davis, Executive Director, National Stonewall Democrats
—Cindy Pearson, Executive Director, National Women's Health Network
—Rabbi Barbara Penzner, Chair of the Rabbinic Cabinet of the Jewish Labor Community and Founder of the Justice at Hyatt campaign Hyatt Housekeepers
— Cleve Jones, Founder of the NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt
—Nolan Treadway, Netroots Nation
Where and When: The National Press Club in Washington DC., Zenger Room Monday, July 23rd at 10 am.
Why: The global boycott marks the largest escalation to date in an ongoing campaign for basic workers rights. Hyatt has singled itself out as the worst employer in the hotel industry by abusing its housekeepers and other hotel workers, replacing longtime employees with minimum wage temporary workers, and imposing dangerous and health-threatening workloads on those who remain.
Thousands of community supporters are joining Hyatt workers in this call to boycott the hotel company. By choosing to not eat, meet or sleep atHyatt, they are urging friends, family and the public to send a clear message to Hyatt that its abuse and exploitation of hotel workers will not be tolerated. In response, Hyatt workers have taken bold steps to end mistreatment, speaking publicly about abuses, going on strike, and now joining in a global boycott of Hyatt.
In conjunction with the global boycott launch this week, major organizations and prominent public figures will show their support by issuing a call to more than 2 million people, encouraging them to go online and "Vote Hyatt the Worst Hotel Employer in America." The global boycott has also been endorsed by the IUF—the global federation of trade unions—and virtually every union representing hotel workers worldwide.
Top Four Reasons to Boycott Hyatt:
1. Hyatt's subcontracting is destroying good jobs and exploiting immigrant workers.
2. Hyatt housekeepers suffer abuse and face dangerous workloads
3. Hyatt has refused to remain neutral as non-union hotel workers organize.
4. Hyatt turned heat lamps on striking workers during a brutal heat wave.
For more information about the boycott and abuses by Hyatt Hotels,visit www.HyattHurts.org .Twitter @hyatthurtsus and Facebook at www.facebook.com/hyatthurts
###
UNITE HERE represents more than 250,000 workers throughout the U.S. and Canada who work in the hospitality, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, laundry, and airport industries. For more information, visit www.HyattHurts.org
