Re: 2011 Conference | <– Date –> <– Thread –> |
From: Micah Ehler (mehlerunitehere.org) | |
Date: Fri, 25 Mar 2011 16:20:42 -0700 (PDT) |
This hotel is a non union hotel so we are not allowed
access to the property, it wouldn't be good for a worker
to speak at the event either due to the company's history
of fear and intimidation, including the firing of union
supporters.
The workers are asking 1 thing, take the lead and honor their boycott. The issue of choosing hotels in the future that are not in a labor dispute seems to have been handled. It is always good to check our website, www.hotelworkersrising.org before you travel to any city. We have a union hotel guide that will list the boycotted / striking hotels for the city you plan on visiting.
It is true that the workers, Unite HERE and I, Micah Ehler w/ Unite HERE, will not compromise on the boycott. While I understand this is a difficult situation Co-housing has found themselves in, I am also sure that many co-housing members have been in more difficult scenarios in the past where they have found the strength to take a stand for what was just. I am confident that the co-housing community will find a way to have a successful event at a location not in the midst of a heated labor dispute.
The question I have for all co-housing members who plan on crossing the workers picket line. "What will it feel like to be on the opposite side of the picket line, a line that many of you have marched and held together for so long?"
- Micah Ehler - On Fri, 25 Mar 2011 13:29:13 -0700 Craig Ragland <craigragland [at] gmail.com> wrote:
Hi Bruce, Below... On Fri, Mar 25, 2011 at 10:38 AM, Bruce Koloseike <koloseik [at] bellsouth.net> wrote:Craig.Thanks for your visit to Westwood this last winter/spring. It certainly prompted my wife and me to attend the Co-ho conference this June.Westwood (Asheville, NC) is a lovely community - interesting architecture, beautiful land, and great people. Its great to hear thatwe'll see you at the conference.Concerning the boycott issue, would it be advisable to have a representative from the union host a session at the conference to give the opportunity for all of us to hear more about their stance and how we can best avoid theissue in the future?In the letter that Lisa and I wrote, we said, "We offered to create opportunities to educate conference attendees about the labor dispute – and raise awareness in general about labor issues linked to thehotel and service industries."Your suggestion is a good one and I'll take it to the conference team. Regardless of whether the union chooses to participate in a conference session, the Coho/US volunteer/staff team has already learned a lot more about labor issues. One of the cohousing residents who received our letter has a history with labor organizing. She has offered to help the 2012 Conference team better understand the issues as we book the hotel for the San Francisco Bay area conference (June 14-18,2012).One challenge is that its so difficult to know what the labor situation may be like over a year in advance of the actual event whenwe have to enter into the contract with the hotel. Likely the hotel itself might not be willing to do asimilar thing, but they might also be asked --- or even have some sort ofjoint session. Bruce KI'm still hoping for the hotel and the union to get this settledbefore the conference. In community, CraigOn Mar 25, 2011, at 1:28 PM, Craig Ragland wrote:Lisa Poley, the 2011 Conference Chair, and I emailed a note on this unfortunate situation to Coho-L on Wednesday. Here's a link to thearchival version of that note: http://lists.cohousing.org/archives/cohousing-l/msg32731.html We also posted a PDF about it on the Conference website: http://conference.cohousing.org/docs/2011/2011_hotel_labor_issue.pdfAs some of you know, this year's conference is the first time that we're using a hotel and we have a lot to learn about venue selection. The 2012 Conference Chair (Katie McCamant) and I have made labor issues a criteria in selecting the venue for that conference - and we have already rejected one hotel because they are on the boycott listpublished by this union. The association thanks you for your support. Craig Ragland Coho/US Exec DirNote: In July, 2011 my replacement will be taking over as the association's next Exec. Dir. To learn more about this jobopportunity, click here: http://www.cohousing.org/node/3926On Thu, Mar 24, 2011 at 11:59 AM, Micah Ehler <mehler [at] unitehere.org>wrote:Dear Cohousing Community Member, It has come to our attention that the Cohousing Association of the United States has scheduled its 2011National Cohousing Conference (June 15-19) at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington, VA. You may be concernedto hear that workers at this hotel (which is owned and operated by the HEI Hotels & Resorts) are engaged in aserious labor dispute; these workers called for a boycottof their hotel in March 2010 after enduring more than a year of anti-union intimidation. Picket lines and other union activities occur regularly in conjunction with the consumer boycott.As a union of hospitality workers throughout the U.S. and Canada, we take great pride in our commitment to buildinga community of union members and their families. Acrossour two countries, UNITE HERE members have fought for andwon innovative improvements that reflect this commitment by pooling our resources to provide health and welfare funds which include benefits for domestic partners and their dependants, child & elder care programs, andpensions that ensure a dignified retirement after a career of service. Additionally, our members have fought for and won improvements in workplace health and safety standards,particularly for room attendants who suffer from analarmingly high injury rate. In a survey of more than 600hotel housekeepers in the U.S. and Canada, 91% said that they have suffered work-related pain. 77% said their workplace pain interfered with routine activities. UNITE HERE members have also been tackling the issue of affordable, quality housing. Many hotel workers either struggle to or are simply unable to afford housing closeto the luxury hotels where they work. In particular, ourlocal union in Toronto, Canada has made great strides onthis issue. Working in partnership with city council, theCo-operative Housing Federation of Toronto, and the Toronto Community Housing Corporation, the 60 Richmond Co-op was completed in March 2010. This LEED Gold Certified, 85-unit building includes a community garden and shared courtyard space for hotel workers and their families. However, Sheraton Crystal City Hotel employees do not currently enjoy these or any benefits of having a union. In fact, HEI’s refusal to provide a fair process for employees to decide whether to form a union lies at the heart of the labor dispute and boycott at the hotel.Several other hotels in the Arlington, VA/Washington D.C.area (including the Double Tree Crystal City, Capitol Hilton, Embassy Suites Crystal City, and the Sheraton Premiere at Tyson's Corner) have historically agreed tosuch a process – they have remained neutral and recognized unions once presented with authorization cards signed by amajority of employees. The Sheraton Crystal City haschosen instead to do just the opposite – workers have beensubjected to an aggressive anti-union campaign whichultimately led them to the decision to begin a boycott (inMarch 2010). Too often, otherwise well-planned events end in disappointment because organizations are poorly informed about the nature of a labor dispute or expect a speedyresolution. But by changing the location of the June 2011 conference to another venue, the Cohousing Association ofthe United States can take a stand to strengthen our communities. Moreover, your important work deservesbetter than to be placed in the midst of a labor dispute.As one of the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel’s valued customers, you have an influential voice. Given our shared vision and the Cohousing Association’s commitment to “improve the world, one neighborhood at atime”, we hope that you will choose to relocate your June2011 conference to a venue which is free of labordisputes. For a complete list of labor disputes and unionhotels in the Arlington/Washington D.C. area and throughout North America, please visitwww.unionhotelguide.org. Also, please contact me with anyquestions, concerns, or to learn more about how to best protect your event. In Solidarity, Micah Ehler Unite HERE! Boycott Coordinator 614-746-1145 mehler [at] unitehere.org _________________________________________________________________Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/_________________________________________________________________Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at:http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/_________________________________________________________________Cohousing-L mailing list -- Unsubscribe, archives and other info at: http://www.cohousing.org/cohousing-L/
In Solidarity, Micah Ehler Unite HERE! Boycott Coordinator 614-746-1145 mehler [at] unitehere.org
- Re: 2011 Conference, (continued)
- Re: 2011 Conference Craig Ragland, March 25 2011
- Re: 2011 Conference Craig Ragland, March 25 2011
- Re: 2011 Conference Sharon Villines, March 25 2011
- Re: 2011 Conference Micah Ehler, March 25 2011
- Re: 2011 Conference Micah Ehler, March 25 2011
- Re: 2011 Conference Micah Ehler, March 25 2011
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