San Mateo County Hotel Workers Union Launches Westmont SFO Travelodge Watch

Today Local 340 of the Hotel Employees & Restaurant Employees Union (HERE) launched Westmont SFO Travelodge Watch for information on the escalating labor dispute at the Travelodge San Francisco North. The hotel is located at 326 South Airport Boulevard in South San Francisco, and is operated by Houston-based Westmont Hospitality Group.

This site offers customers information about the status of contract negotiations and actions at the hotel. "Since the Internet has become such a popular way to book hotel reservations, customers deserve to have information about potential travel disruptions and alternative accommodations readily available online," says Becky Perrine, Research Analyst for the Union.

Workers at the Travelodge SFO North have been in negotiations since October of last year with little progress. Westmont Hospitality Group has refused to give workers modest wage increases and to start paying medical contributions for all hours the employees work. The workers current medical coverage is at risk, and this slight modification is necessary to secure their benefits.

"It is unfortunate that Westmont Hospitality, one of North America's largest hotel operating companies, refuses to treat its workers at this hotel with respect. What workers are asking Westmont for is nominal," added Sherri Chiesa, Trustee of HERE Local 340. Westmont Hospitality Group is controlled by the Mangalji family - brothers Majid and Moez head the company. The company owns and operates Radisson, Hilton, Ramada, Holiday Inn, Best Western, and Travelodge franchises in the United States, as well as hundreds of properties in Canada and Europe.

The Hotel Employees Restaurant Employees Union, Local 340 has represented workers at the hotel for over 25 years. The Union currently represents 2,700 hospitality workers throughout San Mateo County.