Workers at Hilton Downtown Boston Join Local 26

 

On May 16, 2012, the 74 workers at the Blackstone-owned Hilton Downtown celebrated union recognition at their hotel. They choose to join Boston’s Local 26 by card count recognition.  The victory caps an 8-month organizing effort that began with underground meetings in September 2011.  In December, the workers went public with 92% having signed cards and a petition demanding a fair process for union recognition. Since December, the workers have stuck together and have fought hard:  they participated in a picket line outside of their hotel with over 200 union and community members, conducted a sit-in of their General Manager’s office, and staged weekly delegations to improve working conditions and win respect.

“I knew we had to keep fighting so we could have a better life for ourselves and our families,” said Geraldina Teixeira who has worked as a housekeeper at the hotel for five years, “We are so happy that we’ve won the union, now we need to continue fighting for a contract and for more respect.”

In joining Boston’s Local 26, the hotel workers at the Hilton Downtown join 6000 other hospitality workers in the greater Boston area.