Emeryville Hotel Workers Need Support 11/13

The Woodfin workers received notices several weeks ago saying that the company believed their social security numbers were incorrect, and giving them a deadline of October 19 to fix the problem. Thanks to an outcry from the community, the Woodfin extended its deadline by a month, and no workers have yet been fired. However, hotel managers are still insisting that they will terminate any employee who cannot correct a social security "no-match." Workers are counting on continued support to protect their jobs – and show the Woodfin that the community will not tolerate harassment and intimidation of immigrant workers.

Local residents, clergy, unions, immigrants' organizations, hotel guests, political leaders, and friends across the country have shown solidarity with the Woodfin workers. In the past month, numerous supporters have come out to early-morning picket actions at the hotel and made calls to the Woodfin corporate office. Over 20 community organizations have sent letters to the Woodfin. State Senate President Don Perata, Assemblywomen Loni Hancock and Wilma Chan, County Supervisor Keith Carson, and the Alameda County Democratic Central Committee have all written letters of support. Friends and activists across the country have leafleted guests at Woodfin hotels in 11 cities. Over 30 clergy and faith leaders from around the state have signed onto a letter calling on Woodfin CEO Samuel Hardage to follow his conscience and assure workers that they will not be fired. KPFA ran an in-depth story on the situation (to listen, go to http://www.kpfa.org/archives/index.php?arch=16808 and scroll to minute 33).

According to EBASE: "All these actions, and many more, have given critical strength and support to the workers as they struggle to protect their jobs and get through this difficult time. But the fight is far from over. Please join us and the workers on November 13 at 6 pm for a high-energy, family-friendly, musical, candle-lit community protest. As part of this action, workers' children will visit the hotel manager to ask him not to cut off their families' livelihoods. Please RSVP, come out, bring a friend or five, and show the Woodfin that we will not back down until workers' jobs are safe. Also, please continue to call Woodfin CEO Samuel Hardage at (858) 794-2338 X700 or fax to (858) 794-2348."

Background:

In November 2005, Emeryville voters approved Measure C, a living wage law for hotel workers. The measure guarantees workers a living wage, job security when hotels are sold, and reasonable workload limits. Emeryville's hotel workers – mostly immigrant women of color facing low wages, huge work quotas, and a lack of job security – hoped that Measure C would finally bring them fair pay and respect on the job.

But while Measure C went into effect last December, the hotels have stubbornly refused to comply. And the Woodfin Hotel has repeatedly punished and threatened workers for discussing Measure C. Managers have given workers false information, held captive-audience meetings, grilled workers individually about their opinion of the law, and fired a worker involved in Measure C outreach. In spite of this harassment, dozens of Woodfin workers have organized to stand up for their Measure C rights – educating other workers, presenting a petition to managers to demand compliance, and speaking out before the Emeryville City Council.

Now the workers are facing an even more severe threat. On September 27, all employees were asked to re-submit work authorization documents. On October 5, nearly 30 workers were given written notices saying that the company had found problems with their social security numbers, and that they could not continue working at the hotel unless they corrected the problem within two weeks (now extended by a month).

Legalities:

In responses to letters from the community, Woodfin managers have argued that they are checking social security numbers because of an order from the federal government. This story is misleading for a number of reasons. First, there are no known cases of the government requiring an employer to re-verify the work status of existing employees. Second, workers have repeatedly requested to see the letter the hotel claims to have received from the government, but managers have refused. Finally, it is possible that the Woodfin has gotten a letter from the Social Security Administration reporting problems with some workers' social security numbers. But such letters are sent only to inform employees of the problem; they state clearly that employers should not fire or discriminate against workers who receive them. In addition, many of these workers have been employed by the Woodfin for five years under the same social security numbers. The hotel never expressed suspicion about their work authorization until they spoke out for Measure C. The timing of this request strongly suggests that the hotel is punishing workers for defending their legal rights – which constitutes illegal retaliation.