Posts tagged Unite Here
San Diego labor unions calling on city to mandate $25 minimum wage for service workers
May 2, 2024 // The move to lift the hourly wages of those working in San Diego’s service industry is being led by a coalition of three unions — Unite Here; the janitors’ union, SEIU-USWW; and the stagehands’ union, IATSE 122 (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees).
Thousands of hotel workers to rally in 18 cities ahead of contract negotiations
May 1, 2024 // Unionized hotel workers demanding significant pay raises will rally on May Day in 18 U.S. and Canadian cities, as talks are beginning with operators Marriott International (MAR.O), opens new tab, Hilton Worldwide Holdings (HLT.N), opens new tab and Hyatt Hotels Corp (H.N) , opens new tab. Talks will cover about 40,000 workers who look to secure new contracts for the first time since the pandemic. Workers want to reverse pandemic-era staffing and service cuts, as well as duplicate the big pay hikes that organized workers across the nation have been winning in the recent years.
Workers at Philadelphia sports stadium hit picket lines for one-day strike
April 11, 2024 // The union — which represents people who work at the Wells Fargo Center and neighboring Lincoln Financial Field and Citizens Bank Park, where the Philadelphia Eagles and Philadelphia Phillies, respectively, play — say their wages and benefits are not keeping up with inflation. The union said some staffers who work at all three stadiums make different hourly wages at each site, and union members say they are treated as seasonal workers rather than year-round employees, based on each sport’s season.
University of New Haven’s union workers protest for ‘real’ job security
April 11, 2024 //
Workers at downtown Phoenix hotel strike during Final Four
April 9, 2024 // The news release alleges the unlawful behavior hotel management participated in includes alleged interrogation and alleged surveillance tactics, as well as the alleged unlawful termination of two union employees. "We are saddened that the NCAA made the choice to book the teams playing in the Final Four in at least two hotels who have refused to pay a living wage for the last nine months," UNITE HERE 11 said in a statement posted to "X," formerly known as Twitter. Marriott provided this statement to 12News: "We understand that Unite Here representatives have been actively encouraging our downtown Phoenix hotel associates to engage in a work stoppage since this morning. All of our associates scheduled to work at the Renaissance and Westin and approximately two-thirds of those scheduled to work at the Sheraton came to work today. We respect those associates who exercised their right to refrain from working and those who chose to come to work. We remain available and willing to negotiate in good faith for a fair contract that is in the best interest of our associates, our guests, and our owners.
Ice cream chain franchisee raises new questions about California’s fast-food labor law
March 31, 2024 // Assemblyman Chris Holden has not responded to a request for comment. A spokesman for SEIU California referred KCRA 3 to the California Labor Commission. No state leader involved or member of SEIU has responded to KCRA 3's question if they intended to include ice cream shops in the new law. "California’s landmark law raising wages for over 500,000 workers will result in urgently needed relief for working families on April 1, when the wage increase takes effect," the SEIU California spokesman said in a statement. The SEIU has previously said KCRA 3's reporting on its use of nondisclosure agreements is a "nothingburger." "Entities who will determine who will be subject to the law include the labor commissioner's office, the fast-food council, and potentially the courts," said Alex Stack, a spokesman for Gov. Newsom, told KCRA. Campbell told KCRA 3 she has hired a lobbyist and attorneys. When asked if she's considering taking legal action she said, "I think everything is on the table."
Push to mandate two weeks of paid vacation for workers
March 25, 2024 // Reps. Nikki Budzinski (D-Ill.), Greg Casar (D-Texas.) and Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas.) are co-sponsors of the bill. Democratic lawmakers joined by union leaders held a press conference on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to garner support. “Those who are most in need of time off are the ones who can least afford to take it unpaid,” Political Director with UNITE-HERE, Susan Valentine said. She emphasized that denying workers the basic benefit of paid time off perpetuates inequality.
California lawmakers pass more carveouts from new fast food labor law
March 19, 2024 // The legislation approved Monday will exempt fast food restaurants in airports, hotels, convention centers, arenas, museums, casinos and college campuses. Lawmakers noted those workers already have collective bargaining agreements that include benefits and higher pay than the state's new minimum wage for fast food workers. The exemptions will apply immediately once the governor signs the bill. Sources who spoke to KCRA 3 on the condition they remain anonymous said Monday's action is the result of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU) use of non-disclosure agreements in the final negotiations of the fast-food labor law, known as the FAST Recovery Act. SEIU required the fast-food industry representatives to sign the NDA's to build trust during a contentious discussion on how to move forward with the legislation last summer. As a result, SEIU kept other labor groups out of the final negotiations.
The Restaurant Group Behind a Popular Downtown Hotel Closes Five Restaurants, Lays Off 100 Unionizing Employees
February 14, 2024 // Through Unite Here Local 11, the hotel’s restaurant and bar workers filed a complaint with the National Labor Relations Board in January 2024 that accused Noble 33 of suppressing labor organizing among its staff. According to the report, “Noble 33 contends that its contract with Hotel Figueroa stipulates that the unionization of food and beverage employees would trigger a kill clause between both parties.” However, Hotel Figueroa and Unite Here Local 11 deny this claim.
Second Group of Philly Ultimo Coffee Employees Successfully Remove Unwanted “Workers United” Union
January 18, 2024 // Within the last year, Starbucks employees in Manhattan, NY; two Buffalo, NY locations; Pittsburgh, PA; Bloomington, MN; Salt Lake City, UT; Greenville, SC; Oklahoma City, OK; and San Antonio, TX, have all sought free Foundation legal aid in navigating NLRB processes to decertify the WU union. Workers from a Center City Starbucks in Philadelphia are also pursuing a decertification petition against WU with Foundation legal assistance. Coffee employees in the Philadelphia area have scored a string of recent victories in removing unpopular union officials. In May 2023, workers at Guava and Java’s location at Philadelphia International Airport successfully voted to oust UNITE HERE union officials, and a few months later Good Karma Café employees cast ballots to remove the WU union. This month, Ultimo Coffee barista Samuel Tarasenko and his colleagues successfully forced WU out of the coffee shop’s Germantown-area location.