Activists Converge to Support Hotel Worker Uprising

by Beyond Chron (reposted)

Fri, Feb 3, 2006 7:35AM

A diverse crowd of over 100 community leaders, labor officials, and politicians crowded the historic SEIU hall yesterday to learn of plans for a soon to be launched “uprising” by UNITE HERE Local 2. Local 2’s battle for a new contract began in 2004 and is now part of a national campaign with hotel unions in New York, Chicago, Hawaii, Toronto, Monterey, Los Angeles and Boston. Union members joined President Mike Casey in highlighting the campaign’s high stakes, arguing that improving wages and working conditions in the hotel industry nationwide depends on victory in San Francisco. If you are depressed over another George W. Bush State of the Union speech, joining this campaign is the perfect antidote.

It was a sign of the strong community support achieved by UNITE HERE Local 2 that a who’s who of community leaders found time to heed the call of the union for a Community Briefing. Activists from all corners of San Francisco were present, as were Supervisors Peskin (who introduced the event), Daly (with son Jack), Mirkarimi Ma, and Dufty. Also present were State Senate candidate Mike Nevin, and aides to Congressmember Pelosi and Supervisors Maxwell and Alioto-Pier.

One of Local 2’s key demands when it began negotiating a new contract in 2004 was for a contract that would end in 2006, so that San Francisco hotel workers could bargain alongside their brothers and sisters in other cities against the international corporations that negotiate collectively for the hotels.

Read More
http://www.beyondchron.org/news/index.php?itemid=2904#more

Add Your Comments

Support Independent Media

We are 100% volunteer and depend on your participation to sustain our efforts!