Hotel Workers and Young Democrats to Picket Boycott-Busting Republicans
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
A picket of the Providence Westin Hotel has been called by UNITE HERE Local 217 for this afternoon starting at 5:00 PM.
The picket comes the same night as the Republican Party is holding several events at the Westin -- an intentional stick in the eye to the union workers at the Westin.
Meanwhile, the Rhode Island Young Democrats are siding with the Hotel Workers. They sent out a Facebook message stating that "...members of the Rhode Island Young Democrats (RIYD) are encouraged to meet at the Westin Hotel at 5pm in support of workers’ rights. RIYD is asking all Rhode Islanders to support the members of Local 217 and honor the boycott."
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe workers are picketing for many reasons, including the following:
- Management unilaterallly imposed a 20 percent wage cut;
- Management unilaterallly quadrupled employee health insurance costs;
- Management threatened to replace workers with subcontracted labor like the controversial "Hyatt 100" decision in Boston;
- Management fired three workers in retaliation for joining a picket line (they were later reinstated four months later - after the NLRB became involved); and
- Management broke off contract talks with the hotel workers.
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