By a vote of 3139 to 88 (97.3%), workers at 14 San Francisco hotels have voted to authorize a strike if their negotiating committee is unable to move management to sign a fair contract. 77% of eligible members turned out to vote. These members have been working without a contract since August 14th, while the hotel corporations have continued to take a hard line in negotations. In addition, 1271 workers from dozens of other San Francisco hotels turned out to sign a solidarity pledge -- committing to support their sisters and brothers in the event of a strike or lockout.
One month after the expiration of Local 2's citywide contract, the MEG continues to attack workers' health care benefits, and is trying to weaken San Francisco workers by dividing them from hotel workers throughout North America. On Labor Day, over a thousand hotel workers turned out to demonstrate for a new contract that expires in 2006.
The 14 hotels affected by this strike vote are part of the San Francisco Multi-Employer Group , which, with about 4000 workers, makes up about a third of the city's hotel industry. The MEG includes the following hotels:
Argent Hotel |
Hilton |
Mark Hopkins |
Crowne Plaza |
Holiday Inn Civic Center |
Omni |
Fairmont |
Holiday Inn Express |
Palace |
Four Seasons |
Holiday Inn Fisherman's Wharf |
Westin St. Francis |
Grand Hyatt |
Hyatt Regency |
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Visit www.unitehere2.org for more details.
