Generous Gobbler to Prevent Thanksgiving Poultry Problem
CAMBRIDGE, MA – In a twist of fate, Tom the Turkey will be handing out dozens of holiday birds to hotel workers at the Le Meridien hotel in Cambridge on Monday, November 19 from 4-5pm. Current owners, HEI Hotels & Resorts, abandoned this act of caring that had long been a holiday mainstay at the hotel. Boston’s Local 26 stepped in to provide support.
“Le Meridien’s owners have groused about this meaningful tradition, to the point that they have carved it out completely,” said Tom. “They are using cut backs to make gravy and are stuffing their pockets. The new owners cannot continue to peck and scratch at the housekeepers, kitchen staff, and others – the workers who make a hotel run.”
The Cambridge City Council supports a boycott of the Le Meridien because workers must endure crushing workloads due to 30% workforce cutbacks initiated by the new owner. The Le Meridien owners rejected calls for a fair process for workers to decide on unionization. At Monday’s event, Tom the Turkey may even flip a bird to the owner.
WHO: Tom the Thanksgiving Turkey (person in turkey costume)
WHAT: Boston’s Local 26 giving Thanksgiving turkeys to hotel workers – bellboys, housekeepers, kitchen staff, others
WHERE: Le Meridien Hotel
20 Sidney Street
Cambridge, MA
WHEN: Monday, November 14, 4-5 pm
November 15, 2012
Media Advisory
Contact: Steve Crawford
857-753-4132
Hotel workers struggling under new owner get their Thanksgiving turkeys after all
LE MERIDIEN WORKERS CALL FOWL
Generous Gobbler to Prevent Thanksgiving Poultry Problem
CAMBRIDGE, MA – In a twist of fate, Tom the Turkey will be handing out dozens of holiday birds to hotel workers at the Le Meridien hotel in Cambridge on Monday, November 19 from 4-5pm. Current owners, HEI Hotels & Resorts, abandoned this act of caring that had long been a holiday mainstay at the hotel. Boston’s Local 26 stepped in to provide support.
“Le Meridien’s owners have groused about this meaningful tradition, to the point that they have carved it out completely,” said Tom. “They are using cut backs to make gravy and are stuffing their pockets. The new owners cannot continue to peck and scratch at the housekeepers, kitchen staff, and others – the workers who make a hotel run.”
The Cambridge City Council supports a boycott of the Le Meridien because workers must endure crushing workloads due to 30% workforce cutbacks initiated by the new owner. The Le Meridien owners rejected calls for a fair process for workers to decide on unionization. At Monday’s event, Tom the Turkey may even flip a bird to the owner.
WHO: Tom the Thanksgiving Turkey (person in turkey costume)
WHAT: Boston’s Local 26 giving Thanksgiving turkeys to hotel workers – bellboys, housekeepers, kitchen staff, others
WHERE: Le Meridien Hotel
20 Sidney Street
Cambridge, MA
WHEN: Monday, November 14, 4-5 pm
November 15, 2012 Media Advisory Contact: Steve Crawford 857-753-4132Boycott revs up against hotel, where so far it’s ‘business as usual’
By Marc Levy
October 24, 2012
Le Méridien Hotel management said it’s feeling no impact from a boycott called by workers and city officials a little over a week ago, but a union official warns that it’s early yet.
Workers called Oct. 11 for a boycott of their own employer and appeared the next Monday before the City Council, where a ban on holding city events was affirmed unanimously by councillors. In addition to demanding such events as a biennial post-election celebration be moved from the 20 Sidney St. hotel, some also testified to putting a more personal stamp on their opposition to management’s practices, with vice mayor Denise Simmons saying she had stopped having tea at the hotel and councillor Tim Toomey saying he was telling people to take their business elsewhere.
Le Meridien Hotel Workers Boycott in Cambridge
“On Thursday, October 11, 2012, workers at the Le Meridien Cambridge launched a boycott of their own hotel.
Le Méridien Hotel Workers Plan Boycott of their own Employer
October 10, 2012
The Le Méridien Hotel faces a boycott call from its own workers amid accusations they “endure crushing workloads” after staff cutbacks and the owners have rejected calls to discuss unionization.