DC Hotel Workers And Management Reach Tentative Agreement

Friday, January 14, 2005

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)


"We got what we needed AND what we wanted," says worker.

Hotel workers won a tentative contract tonight after more than five months of negotiations. Hundreds of members participated in today's negotiations with the Hotel Association, and were present when the tentative agreement was reached. The room exploded with excitement and joy.

The hotel worker's union, UNITE HERE Local 25, had set a deadline of tomorrow to reach an agreement or take further action, up to and including a strike.  That action will now be held until the workers vote on whether to accept or reject the settlement.  Members will vote to ratify the contract early next week.

"This is amazing.  We did this.  By being strong, and sticking together, we got what we needed AND what we wanted," said Delores Peoples, a switchboard operator at Loew's L'Enfant Plaza. "Our members proved again and again that they were both ready to reach an agreement, and ready to strike if they had to," said John Boardman, Executive Secretary Treasurer UNITE HERE Local 25. "Because of that resolve, we have made a huge leap forward for hotel workers in the District. This is my proudest moment.  This is the best settlement ever in the history of Local 25."

The tentative agreement ensures that there will be no work interruptions and the hotels will be able to proceed with all guest services for inauguration week as planned.  The contract language includes new protections from workload increases, harassment at the workplace and other problems workers sought to improve.  The economic package improves wages, pension contributions and maintains a strong health care package.  Details will be released after members have read and voted on the contract.

UNITE HERE Local 25 represents nearly 5,000 hotel workers in the Washington DC area.  UNITE HERE is the merged union of hospitality, gaming, apparel, textile and laundry workers. The new union represents nearly half a million workers in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

 

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