Labor & Employment Law

Workers Picket Madison Hotel After Owners Refuse to Honor Contract

By James Parks

Radio and TV host Tavis Smiley, who had a reservation at the Madison Hotel in Washington, D.C., yesterday, showed support for the workers by not crossing their picket line and checking in at another pro-union hotel. As AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Arlene Holt Baker said:

“Tavis Smiley wasn?t smiling.”

Workers at the Madison had braved the bitter cold and freezing rain to protest the new management’s refusal to honor the contract they negotiated with the previous owners. A German-based company took over the hotel Jan. 19 and is not accepting the terms of the existing contract with UNITEHERE! Local 25, which represents 150 workers at the Madison.

The workers are calling on the unions that are headquartered in Washington for support. The Madison, where workers have had union representation for decades, is a popular location for local union events.                

All the hotel workers were required  to re-apply for their jobs by the new owners, the union says. Workers like Jorge Fernandez, who has worked at Palette, the Madison?s restaurant, for seven years. ?We showed up at work last week and the restaurant was closed,? he told Union City, the Metropolitan Washington [D.C.] Council?s online newsletter.

They said we could apply for other positions at the hotel but jobs are scarce right now. I have a family, kids in school to support; we had no warning that we?d lose our jobs.

Workers also vowed to fight as long as it takes to get the new owners to accept the contract.

Full post as published by AFL-CIO NOW BLOG on February 02, 2011 (boomark / email).