Entries by UNITEHERELocal26

Union hotels matter to Roxbury residents

Kalila Barnett of Alternatives for Community and Environment noted that the Local 26 hospitality union starts workers at $18 per hour with benefits…“The hotel chosen by Urbanica is non-union, and will pay $5 less than union standard,” Barnett said. “I’m wondering, why is Roxbury being treated differently?”

Video: Mel King, Mayor Walsh react to Local 26 diversity of hiring initiative

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and long-time activist Mel King remark on the establishment of the city-wide diversity in the hospitality industry task force formed by Local 26 union contracts with major Boston hotels. The remarks were made at the announcement of the task force this summer. “This is a model that you have developed here […]

Fitted vs Flat: Housekeepers at Boston hotel celebrate safe bed making practices

Housekeepers at the Loews Boston Hotel are celebrating an agreement with the Back Bay hotel that will protect housekeepers’ bodies from pain and injury. The hotel brought in new mattresses to keep to industry standards, but heavier mattresses were a concern to housekeepers who have to lift them an estimated 150 times a day. After […]

Washington Post: What a housekeeper at Harvard’s hotel tells us about inequality

“I see Harvard as a financial institution first, and they do some educational work on the side,” says Lang, of UNITE-HERE. “At least dealing with a private equity company, they’ll say it’s a matter of the bottom line.” “They do whatever Harvard says, because Harvard is the big boss,” Lemus said. “So why they do […]

DoubleTree Housekeepers Strike, Rally Attracts Hundreds

“Whenever I hear these workers’ stories, it’s kind of the same deal,” Osorio said over the beating drums and whistles of the rally. “Maybe I don’t know what it’s like to be a housekeeper and experience this pain, but I know what it’s like for their children and their families, and I don’t think anyone […]