Remembering 9/11: The Effect on Local 25
Wednesday, September 7, 2011
(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)by John A. Boardman
When the images of the towers
appeared on TV on the morning of 9/11 and we watched the smoke billowing out of
the Pentagon we had no idea what was ahead. Our immediate concern was for
the members who worked in the cafeterias at the Pentagon. We didn’t know
that all of them were safe until late that evening when our shop stewards were
finally able to call in. That was the only good news we would have for many
months to come.
What happened
immediately after the attack on the Pentagon was the worst crisis to hit members
of Local 25 in the more than 70 years our union has existed in Washington. More
than 80% of our members in DC hotels were out of work for the first five months
after 9/11. Business started to pick up after that, but very slowly; people were
still afraid to travel to DC. We did not return to anywhere near normal work
levels for a full eighteen months and during that period any little thing could
cause workers to be out of work. For example, the first time the new “Threat
Level Index” went up a notch we lost 21,000 room nights and two major banquets
within one hour.
With so many
members out of work, Local 25 converted to a “survival mode” operation to
help our members. We worked hard with the Metro Washington Council to get
unemployment extension legislation passed. We set up and ran food banks,
ultimately giving away more than 120,000 pounds of food. Our staff was trained
on how to negotiate with landlords and banks on rent and mortgage payments. It
was a very tough time and most of our membership suffered terribly, but we made
it through. We made it because of the help and generosity of lots of good people
and caring organizations like the Community Services Agency. Ultimately,
we made it because our members took care of one another. That’s real
solidarity.
Boardman is Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Unite
Here Local 25, whose members work in the metro-area hospitality industry. This
is part of a series about the local impact of the 9/11 attacks on the metro DC
labor community. We welcome your memories and comments at
streetheat@dclaborarchives.org photo: Boardman (at right) and Hyatt workers at a
2010 negotiating session; photo by Jayson Harrison.