On Monday, November 13th hotel workers and their supporters gathered for an evening rally against threatened mass firings at the Woodfin Hotel at 5800 Shellmound St. in Emeryville. Audio Report

These immigrant workers received notices several weeks ago saying that the company believed their social security numbers were incorrect, and giving them a deadline of October 19th to fix the problem. After an outcry from the community, the Woodfin extended its deadline by a month, and no workers have yet been fired. Hotel managers are still insisting that they will terminate any employee who cannot correct a social security “no-match.” The managers claimed that they are acting on an order from the federal government-- however, when there is a problem with a worker's social security number, a letter is sent to the employee, not to the employer, and the letters state that employers should not fire or discriminate against workers who receive them.

Woodfin Hotel workers are still demanding what is owed to them under the new living wage law in Emeryville, 2005's Measure C, which passed by the voters and took effect last December. The measure guarantees workers a living wage, job security when hotels are sold, and reasonable workload limits. The hotel never expressed suspicion about the employees' work authorization until after they had spoken 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.

Protest organizers say, "The Woodfin has become ground zero in the East Bay to fight to defend immigrant rights and to defend city laws that improve working conditions. Workers are counting on your continued support to protect their jobs ­ and show the Woodfin that our community will not tolerate harassment and intimidation of immigrant workers." Read more

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