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.