Woodfin Hotel Workers Rally to Save Jobs

Woodfin Suites has issued 30 “no match” social security letters to their employees. Workers say
Woodfin Suites hotel is retaliating against them, after they filed a lawsuit against the hotel for back pay. The suit could cost Woodfin's tens of thousands of dollars. Sarah Norr is an organizer with e-base, the East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable Economy.

"As soon as we started talking about measure c management started retaliating against workers. They one time brought a whole bunch of workers up to the attic and told them immigration was outside. About a month ago, the hotel tried a whole new tactic. They told the workers that all of a sudden they found problems with almost all of their social security numbers. A lot of these workers have worked at this very hotel since it opened 6 years ago. Funny, there was never a problem their social security numbers before they started speaking up for their rights."

Last year Emeryville voters passed measure c, a law that requires hotels to pay their employees a livable wage. Under Measure C, hotels in Emeryville are required to pay their workers a minimum of 9 dollars an hour, and non-managerial workers an average of 11 dollars an hour. If employees clean more than 5 thousand square feet a day, the hotel must pay their workers time and a half. Organizers and workers say the hotel company has refused to comply with the measure. New hotel manager Hugh Macintosh says Woodfin Suites in Emeryville is complying with Measure C.

"We have no intention to retaliate against them. As a matter of fact we're offering to pay our employees to clarify any misunderstanding that exists between the information we have on file for them and the social security administration. And that's a good indication how much we care for our employees and how much we care for their well-being."

Macintosh adds that the hotel is only responding to a letter from the social security. But workers rights advocates say it is illegal to threaten termination for a social security "no match” letter. Workers have also filed a lawsuit for back pay owed to them under Measure C, which could cost the hotel tens of thousands of dollars. Maria Martinez has been cleaning hotel rooms at Woodfin Suites for 6 years, since the hotel opened. She says the hotel has refused to show her and city council members the letter from social security.

"They asked me for my social security number and I asked the manager for the letter that said they needed it and they stopped asking. What they gave us instead was a letter from the Woodfin with the Woodfin letterhead. These are the letters that they've given to us workers that is supposedly from the social security administration."

Woodfin Hotel workers were not alone standing out in the rain for their rights. Emeryville City Council member John Fricke stood with protesters in support of the City's Measure C and workers rights. State Senate President Don Perata, Assembly members Loni Hancock, and Wilma Chan have also urged Woodfin Suites Hotel to settle the matter. A litigation judge will hear the workers lawsuit on November 30th.