UNITE HERE held a
major action July 21 at the Hyatt Hotel at Union Square in San
Francisco. Hyatt was the focus of nationwide actions organized by the
union in San Francisco, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Indianapolis,
San Antonio, Phoenix, Los Angeles and Honolulu.
According to a
union press release, “Hyatt has eliminated jobs, replaced career
housekeepers with minimum wage temporary workers, and imposed
dangerous workloads on those housekeepers who remain.”
The increased
workloads have caused an increase of injuries on the job. Actions in
some cities featured bed-making demonstrations highlighting health
hazards faced by housekeepers.
The militant and
multinational picket line in San Francisco numbered about 1,000 hotel
workers along with supporters from several unions and community
organizations. Almost 80 hotel workers and supporters were arrested
while sitting down blocking Stockton Street in front of the hotel
during rush hour in a planned civil disobedience action.
The ANSWER
Coalition participated with a banner and signs supporting the hotel
workers, and several members participated in the civil disobedience
action. Other organizations participating included Jobs with Justice,
Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance (AFL-CIO), and the National
Network for Immigrant and Refugee Rights.
The following day,
about 1,000 union workers and community activists joined in a “We
are One” march and rally co-sponsored by the Alameda Central Labor
Council and APALA. The organizers aimed to highlight the issues
facing labor and oppressed communities and act “in support of
contract fights and to make Wall Street pay,” according to an
announcement of the action on the We Are One website.
APALA led the march
from the site of their national convention up Broadway to the Oakland
City Hall under the slogan “Fight for a Fair Economy.” Speakers
at the rally included AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Liz Shuler and
Oakland Mayor Jean Quan.
The largest
contingents on the march were unions and organizations representing
some of the most underpaid and oppressed workers. Prominent
contingents included UNITE HERE hotel workers, United Food and
Commercial Workers, and the Domestic Workers Coalition, which
includes the Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice, Mujeres Unidas
y Activas, Filipino Advocates for Justice, and Hand in Hand.
Others present
included teachers, electrical workers (IBEW), International Longshore
and Warehouse Union (ILWU), Sailors Union of the Pacific,
firefighters, Service Employees International Union (SEIU),
stagehands (IATSE), Sign and Display Union (IUPAT), Chinese
Progressive Association, and East Bay Alliance for a Sustainable
Economy.
