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.

Boston’s Local 26 & Mayor Menino’s Boston Shines

For the past ten years, over 5,000 volunteers have come together for two days in the spring to participate in a Boston citywide clean up event.   This year, more than 70 members from Boston’s Local 26 participated in the event to paint a community center, plant flowers, sweep, rake and pick up trash to make our communities more beautiful.

All is not fair in Boston hotels

By Lawrence Harmon, The Boston Globe

Both the Hilton Boston Downtown and the Omni Parker House are high-quality hotels popular with tourists and business travelers who want to be in the center of the city. You can trust that the beds at both hotels are top-notch. But there is a big pay gap when it comes to the room attendants who make those beds.

****WHY WE NEED A STRIKE AND ORGANIZING FUND****

We face a tremendous challenge.
In 2013 most Local 26 members
will be in contract negotiations. The
contracts for all hotel workers,
convention center workers, Fenway
Park workers and MIT workers –
5000 Local 26 members in all – will
expire.  Click on the link above to read more.

Northeastern University Food Service Workers Vote to Unionize

Northeastern University Food Service Workers

Vote to Unionize

Chartwells workers overwhelmingly vote YES to join Boston’s Local 26

BOSTON- In the largest campus food service unionization in recent history, 400 Northeastern University dining hall workers overwhelmingly voted in favor of joining Boston’s Local 26.

Rallying with hundreds of students, Chartwells workers spoke about injustice they faced in the dining halls and kitchens last month. The workers conveyed the urgent need for a union as harassment and unfair treatment have created a hostile work environment. Last night’s vote was 299 to 44 in favor of joining Boston’s Local 26.

“I wanted this union to end the mistreatment and injustice we all face while working here,” said Angela Bello “It has been a long fight and we faced pressure from our bosses not to unionize but we came together and demanded fairness. All we want is to be treated with respect.”

Boston’s Local 26 represents 6,000 hospitality industry workers in the greater Boston area. Members include workers at hotels, restaurants, university food services, Boston Convention Centers, Fenway Park, Logan International Airport, and other companies throughout the city.

“Our city and community thrive when the people who live and work here are appreciated and valued,” said Brian Lang, President of Boston’s Local 26. “Along with the thousands of workers in our union, the Chartwells workers and Northeastern University share our commitment to create dignity and respect at the workplace with secure, well-paid jobs.”

The workers were organized with the help of a student group, Huskies Organizing With Labor (HOWL), a broad coalition of 24 campus groups.  The students recently demanded that the University and Chartwells let the workers choose whether to unionize in an environment free of pressure and intimidation.

“The outpouring of support from Northeastern students, faculty, and community members helped encourage the workers to move forward,” said Lang. “As we work together in the future with Northeastern and our new union members, we will eliminate the abuse and disrespect that these men and women were subject to.”

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