As Boston became a ghost town Friday, most of the city’s residents stayed home from work and got a unexpected day off. Most, but not all. While Starbucks and Subways shuttered, select Dunkin’ Donuts stayed open at the requests of law enforcement, earning deserved praise for the Boston-based chain. But while the chain was “encouraging our guests to stay home today,” somebody had to come in to make the Dunkaccinos for the police officers, namely the low-wage workers who staff the stores.
Lost wages: Service workers deserve help
It’s a testament to the generous spirit of hotel and restaurant workers that so many donated their time to feed law enforcement personnel investigating the Marathon bombings. Even though businesses near the blast sites were closed — most notably the Lenox Hotel — employees found ways to keep investigators fed and cared for. Click here to read more.
Canvassing for Linda Dorcena Forry!
Krystle Campbell, daughter of UNITE HERE Local 26 member Patty Campbell
“Our union is a family. We are overcome with grief alongside Patty and Billy Campbell and their family, who lost their loved one Krystle on Monday. We join the rest of the Boston community in mourning her death and remembering her life. The thoughts of all of Boston’s hotel workers are with the Campbells and with the families of the other victims of Monday’s attack. We will support our union sister Patty and our union brother Billy in the aftermath of this unimaginable loss.”
–Statement of Brian Lang, President of UNITE HERE Local 26.
DoubleTree Hotel Workers Allege Illegal Interference With Unionization Process
Employees of the Harvard-owned DoubleTree Suites by Hilton Hotel Boston filed charges of unfair labor practices on Wednesday alleging that management illegally interfered with their unionization process. The charges, filed with the National Labor Relations Board, follow a March petition by workers that announced their intention to begin the process of deciding whether or not to join UNITE HERE! Local 26, the state branch of a national union that represents more than 250,000 workers.
How will the Boston shutdown affect workers?
As Boston became a ghost town Friday, most of the city’s residents stayed home from work and got a unexpected day off. Most, but not all. While Starbucks and Subways shuttered, select Dunkin’ Donuts stayed open at the requests of law enforcement, earning deserved praise for the Boston-based chain. But while the chain was “encouraging our guests to stay home today,” somebody had to come in to make the Dunkaccinos for the police officers, namely the low-wage workers who staff the stores.