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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Joseph Rendeiro
jrendeiro@nclr.org
(202) 776-1566
After reaching an agreement with Hyatt Hotels, UNITE HERE, the union representing Hyatt workers, has ended the global boycott of the hotel chain which NCLR (National Council of La Raza), the Mexican American Legal Defense and Educational Fund (MALDEF) and the Labor Council for Latin American Advancement (LCLAA) joined earlier this year. NCLR, MALDEF and LCLAA joined the boycott in response to widespread evidence of harmful working conditions for hotel housekeepers, who are predominantly women of color, including Latinas. The agreement will result in strong new contracts for Hyatt workers that will make hotel jobs safer and more secure. The agreement will also offer some nonunion Hyatt workers a fair process for unionizing.
“NCLR is pleased to have helped Hyatt workers achieve this major victory that will improve working conditions, wages and their right to a voice on the job,” said Janet Murguía, President and CEO of NCLR. “By joining the boycott, we sent a clear message that all workers should be fairly compensated and treated with dignity and respect. We are proud to stand by Hyatt workers and will continue to push for stronger workplace protections that guarantee the rights and safety of workers within the hotel industry.”
“The end of this boycott marks a victory not just for the workers—whose hard-fought efforts led to this well-deserved agreement—but also for our economy, for fairness and for the basic constitutional principles that have united our nation and facilitated its longstanding success,” stated Thomas A. Saenz, President and General Counsel of MALDEF.
“This is an important victory for workers. After many years of mobilization by the courageous hard workers of Hyatt, many of whom are Latinas, one of the world’s largest hotel chains is addressing the problems of basic worker rights, fair wages and safer working conditions,” said Milton Rosado, National President, LCLAA. “We are pleased Hyatt has agreed to offer new contracts for Latino workers and has promised to make hotel jobs safer. We applaud Hyatt’s new commitment to allow nonunion Hyatt workers to unionize. While we celebrate this hard-earned victory, LCLAA will continue to fight for better wages and working conditions for all hotel workers.”
While the global boycott has ended, labor disputes at several local Hyatt hotels persist (see the online Union Hotel Guide). Going forward, NCLR, MALDEF and LCLAA will remain vigilant and adhere to a policy of avoiding hotels where labor disputes exist.
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