Wow, the Hyatt in Boston is getting what they deserve

Taxi drivers to boycott Hyatt over firings

By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff

Union officials at the Boston Taxi Drivers Association said they faxed a letter to the Hyatt yesterday saying taxi drivers would boycott the Hyatt, refusing to service the hotel's Boston locations, unless the housekeepers the chain fired last month were rehired.

The union represents 1,700 taxi drivers, according to Arthur Rose, a union representative.

Similarly, the Eastern Sociological Society, a group of sociology professionals and scholars, said it would withdraw its business unless the chain reconsidered its actions.

The moves by the groups are a response to Hyatt's firing of 98 hotel workers -- many 20-plus year employees of the corporation -- earlier on Aug. 31, and replacing them with workers from a Georgia-based staffing company. In a front page story in the Globe on Sept. 17, the housekeepers claimed that they had to train their replacements and told that the staffing agency workers were only vacation replacements. The former staff housekeepers at the center of the Hyatt controversy -- mostly minority women -- made about $15 an hour or $26,000 a year.

Hyatt officials have said in an e-mail that they regretted the firings and had to make "very difficult decisions to adjust costs in response to continuing declines in revenues."

Criticism of the company has increased. Union activists have launched a "Save the Hyatt 100" site on Facebook. And on Tuesday, Gov. Deval Patrick thrust the issue into the national spotlight, taking the unusual step of threatening a government boycott of the hotel chain.

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/09/taxi_drivers_to.html


Governor threatens a Hyatt boycott
http://www.boston.com/business/articles/2009/09/24/governor_threatens_a_hyatt_boycott/

http://www.boston.com/business/gallery/hyattprotest/

Proud to be K #1!

OS

Solidarity.

The taxi drivers really put a nail in their coffin. Who will be next to boycott?

You know what I mean, Vern?

Besides regular freight, perhaps the mail might have a hard time finding its way to the Hyatt along with UPS packages as well.

:rofl:

I don't think the mail should be interrupted, but that's just me.

As for UPS and other private mail firms, are they unionized? They are free to do whatever they like.

but someone might embrace the idea of blocking the mail from being delivered. I don't want to see anything like that happening; it might be argued that mail falls under the same protection as free speech in the constitution.

Just really not worth it for the relatively minimal effect. Cabs, UPS, private carriers of any kind, fine. I'm all for it. Solidarity indeed.

I prefer the Hilton group anyway!

Love's me some Homewood Suites!!!

:silly:

recommended.

But right on... I guess Hyatt employees were union? Seems we have our own "illegal alien" type workers here now... from Georgia...don't even have to go to Mexico or other outside countries. Be nice to bring Unions back to the southern states nd even up the playing field nationally!

which owns majority of neverland ranch.


Accor Hospitality

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Accor sold Red Roof Inns in April 2007.


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All Seasons : 2-3 stars hotels. 35 hotels. The first All Seasons hotel opened in France in mid-September 2007. All Seasons has already 20 hotels in Australia.


Midscale Brands :

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Mercure Hotels : 3 and 4 star hotels. 756 hotels in 49 countries (3rd hotels network in Europe).
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Novotel Hotels : 4 stars hotels in 61 countries (387 hotels).
M Gallery : new boutique hotels with 3 hotels (4 stars) that are remarkable in their personality. They are categorized according to four themes: Vision, Design, History and Panorama. Some were Sofitel hotels.
Pullman (Hotels) : new brand relaunched in 2007. 5 stars dedicated to travellers, it has 11 hotels (By 2015, it will grow to 250 hotels worldwide and will ultimately include more than 300).



Luxury Brand :

Sofitel Hotels and Resorts, including the new boutique-hotels So by Sofitel and top luxury Sofitel Legend. 172 hotels in 52 countries.


Other activities :

BASE Backpacker Hostels : 14 hostels in New Zealand and Australia.
Groupe Lucien Barrière : casinos and luxury hotels and resorts in France, such as the new Fouquet's Barrière on Paris Champs Elysées.
Accor Thalassa : 15 resorts including thalassotherapy and thermal spas.
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Lenôtre : luxury catering and more than 30 gastronomy boutiques in 8 countries.
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http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accor

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Colony_Capital

I know they are non-union, I really usually pull an Airstream when I travel far, or my VW bus... I hate motels....only in a pinch...What chains are Union hotels?

One in Houston, one in Dallas.

I'm Hyatt Gold Passport, and in certain cities (esp. San Francisco and Bethesda), the Hyatt properties are both reasonably-priced and convenient.

But if cabbies can do it I can.

Besides, the Ritz in Boston provides VERY favorable corporate rates (compared to its rack rates), and who wouldn't rather stay at the Ritz?

:patriot: :applause:

Workers uniting. I think I just felt the rush of the Holy Spirit. This ROCKS!


:kick:

Yessiree, let us hope this is the start to reversing the trend that started in 1981 when ole trickle-down-reagan fired the striking Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organization (PATCO) and launched the emasculation of all american workers and the decline of american unions to empower and enrich the unregulated unrestrained corporate greed...

one group I found on Facebook.

http://www.facebook.com/search/?q=hyatt+100&init=quick#/group.php?gid=151398066063&ref=mf

This really is fucking outrageous. Macy's is doing the same thing -- letting FT sales associates go only to bring in "contingents" at $8.00/hour with no benefits.

:rofl:

Corporate executives are quick to fire people and cut pay and benefits at the bottom of the corporate ladder to "save" money, but never touch their own outrageous cost to the corporate bottom line. More hypocrisy.

This has been traumatic for him - I suspect he'll need a bonus and a long vacation to calm his nerves.

Slice a few million off the pay of a few top execs and you've got your cost savings.

Political party Democratic
Alma mater Harvard University,Stanford University
Occupation Businesswoman

Penny Sue Pritzker (born 1959) is an American business executive, and a member of the Pritzker family of Chicago, one of America's wealthiest business families.

She is the founder and current Chair of Classic Residence by Hyatt, a chain of luxury senior living communities spread throughout the United States,

and the national finance chair of Barack Obama's presidential campaign.

In 2007 the Forbes 400 list of "America's wealthiest" showed her as the 135th richest person in the U.S., estimated net worth of $2.8 billion US,<1> in 2008 tied for 227th with $2.0 billions.<2> In 2009 Forbes listed her as the world's 647th richest person, with net worth of $1.1 billions.<3>

On November 20, 2008, CNN reported that Pritzker was Barack Obama's top choice for Commerce Secretary, quoting "multiple" unnamed sources.<4> However, it was later reported that Pritzker took herself out of the running due to concerns about her confirmation.<5><6>

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Penny_Pritzker

Americans are too passive when getting screwed by the corporations.

When lots of goods were manufactured in the U.S., groups of workers (through a union) could withhold their labor and win concessions from corporations.

Now that practically everything that we buy is imported, the corporations can thumb their noses at the people in their role as labor.

However, the people still have clout as consumers. The only problem is that few people realize that they have this power, and seldom use it. Threatening to not do any business with Hyatt if they don't rehire those workers is the action all Americans should be taking against any corporation who tries to screw any segment of the public.

Moreover, the public shouldn't wait too long before acting on this situation. Hyatt will stall under the assumption that the people have no spine, and Hyatt will get away with the firings as the spirit of the public will quickly wane. The people must not let them get away with this.

Americans also have to tell retailers they want to be able to buy more American made products, and will not shop at stores that don't offer such products.

Many Americans have lost (or never developed) the ability to discern quality from shoddiness, and much of what is imported today is overpriced crap. If more people would refuse to buy such overpriced crap, the corporations would have to supply better quality goods. Nowadays, the average consumer is like a drug addict when it comes to buying stuff.

patronize that business. Mistreatment of workers? Tell everyone you know about it, tell the management that you're boycotting. I practice it regularly, have for years. Would never set foot in WalMart, for example. It's against my religion.

:P

And they fired these fantastic people so they could go even lower?

Buncha people who don't know their place, banding together like that. Don't they know we're in a recession? Everyone has to tighten their belts! Hyatt executives have been advised to consider the possibility of having only a two martini lunch every other Wednesday.

This is why Republicans & corporatists are afraid of Unions. And they should be! :applause:

Never bought anything there - not a room, not a meal... (except one banquet I attended for a seminar being held there)

but I sure stopped there in a lot to go to the bathroom!

Ok, understood. So what's the uproar here? Businesses have to make a profit to stay in business people. That's why you make "business decisions." And they're not always easy. We're mad because a business made moves to keep revenues sustainable during a recession? Oh noooossss!!!!

You'll see that it's the fact that upper management never takes a hit in these types of deals. In this case, housekeepers--some of whom had put in 20 years with this company--were let go.


Cher

Most expensive is $405. I don't know how many rooms they have in Boston.

They're worth $0 then.

gate agents, ticket agents, ramp workers, airline cleaners, etc., in favor of "contract workers" whose salaries are a fraction of what was paid before. Folks lose their jobs (usually with benefits). Resentments abound throughout these companies, the service is crappy as a result, and everyone pays the price. It's the bottom corporate line that never seems to end.

Let the corporate and management people take a cut in pay.

love it

to convince our legislators to actually represent us, and to convince certain corporations to stop supporting disinformation campaigns.

These are the situations that get people onto the streets.

Edt. - sounded too much like Sarah The Quitter, ick.

Namely health care benefits. The Hyatt didn't want to pay the increased heath care costs submitted by the union. So they fired the housekeepers and hired workers from a temporary staffing agency in Georgia. Why? Because they don't have to provide the workers from the staffing company with any kind of benefits, because those employees don't work for the Hyatt. They work for the Staffing Company in Georgia. So the Hyatt gets all the benefits of the housekeepers work, without having to fork out any benefits or provide expensive health care coverage. That's what this was all about.

:thumbsup:

We used to stay frequently at Hyatts when we traveled. I guess that we'll be staying elsewhere in the future.

they would be shut down in 72 hours after the rats infested the lobby!!

Look, layoffs suck. But it's not like Hyatt is the only company.. or heck, even the only HOTEL company who is laying people off this year... Starwood, Marriott, Hilton - every one of them have done it.

Why is this ONE company who is laying of 98 employees to be outsourced to another US based company so much worse then every other company that lays off 1,000 or more people to India every month?

I'm not saying this doesn't suck - but i'm asking why this is worse? At least the housekeepers can apply back to the outsourcing company (and work for $8 an hour instead of $15). Better then when the jobs go overseas.. and you never see them again.

It sucks.. but I do think it's being blown out of proportion.. and I hope the people who are boycotting this company are doing so to every company who lays off and outsources this year.

This is a race to the bottom for most of us. Those at the top of the pyramid will do just fine. We have to draw the line somewhere, and actions like this are a great start.

It'll be going out to my social networking friends tonight. If we all did this, it could really hit their bottom line.

A community standing up for its own is good medicine and a great example when society at large is being held hostage to the needs of their survival to such an extent that apathy prevails. Moments like this need to be less rare, more stones to roll in the turning of the tide as we learn we can make corporate dominance receed.

Way to go, Boston!!!!!! :applause:

The rest of us have to draw a line and fight back.

The U.S. economy is in the gutter MAINLY because of the offshoring or outsourcing of jobs to lower wages. Two people are hurt in such cases: the person who loses the job, AND the person who is hired at a lower wage than the job originally paid.

Since our government appears to be too spineless and/or corrupt to defend America against this corporate exploitation, it is time for the people to defend themselves. Kudos to everyone taking a stand on this matter. Hopefully, more people will emulate these American heroes and fight back against all such exploitation.

S-O-L-I-D-A-R-I-T-Y. If only we saw more of it these days.

With Barbara Ehrenreich. Here's the audio and transcript link:

http://www.onpointradio.org/2009/09/barbara-ehrenreich-on-poverty-now


Fired after years of work to be replaced by people making $8 and no benefits.

I wrote to Hyatt and told them I'm not staying with them again, regardless of location.

to play chess.

Hyatt offers fired housekeepers jobs elsewhere
September 25, 2009
By Megan Woolhouse, Globe Staff

Hyatt Hotels Inc. responded today to public outcry and calls for a boycott of the hotel chain, saying it would offer housekeepers it fired new jobs through an outside staffing agency or retraining programs.

Company officials said the 98 housekeepers -- who were fired last month and replaced by employees of a staffing agency -- would be offered jobs in the Boston area through United Service Companies -- an outsourcing firm -- at other hotels in the city. Hyatt does not plan to rehire them to work at its own hotels, it said.

The employees would be offered retraining services through the Manpower company and Right Management, Hyatt officials said.

"We have gone to a lot of effort" to create the options, said Farley Kern, Hyatt's director of Brand Relations. "We feel that there were aspects of the original business decision that we didn't handle in a way that was consistent with our values and this is a way to address that."

http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2009/09/hyatt_offers_fi.html
Governor Deval Patrick said this week that he would direct state workers to boycott the hotel chain unless the workers were rehired. Kyle Sullivan, a spokesman for Patrick, said in statement, "The governor has spoken with local Hyatt management and worker representatives, and is reviewing the proposal. In the end he wants to ensure that this is a proposal the workers can depend on and feel is fair. Having been treated so unfairly, they are understandably hesitant
to trust any proposal short of restoring them their jobs."

Officials from Unite Here Local 26, a union that represents hotel workers -- but not the fired Hyatt employees -- were not satisfied by the offer.

"Hyatt’s latest proposal is simply a smokescreen designed to trick people in to thinking Hyatt is doing the right thing," union president Janice Loux said in a statement. "It does not provide the women with the one thing they really deserve. These women have made it clear that they want to be returned to the jobs they have held for years, and Hyatt’s PR scheme does not diminish their determination."

The Boston Taxi Drivers Association, which has threatened to boycott Hyatt, said it is reviewing the offer before deciding whether to go ahead with the boycott.

"What they're trying to do is take the easy way out and think that it will all go away and that we have short memories," said Donna Blythe-Shaw, a taxi drivers union representative.

"This is absolutley unacceptable," she added. "They are not going to bring these people back."

Kern said the housekeepers would be offered new full-time positions at the same rate of pay through the end of 2010. The company said it would also extend health care coverage for the workers until March 31, 2010.

In a a press release, Hyatt officials said they are meeting with the housekeepers to explain the options, answer their questions and "ease the transition."


Katie Johnston Chase of the Globe staff contributed to this report.

Two workers are hurt in this situation? The person who loses her job, and the replacement worker who has to do the same work as the person she is replacing, but for a lot less money.

In a shrinking economy, what good is retraining? Are the laid off workers going to be trained as programmers? Programmers are being trained to be housekeepers as programming jobs are being offshored to India. Maybe the replacements for these housekeepers formerly worked as programmers.

This is just more corporate spin from Hyatt.

SOLIDARITY! HOT DAMN!!

They put up a giant rat at labor protests. I've seen one when I was in NYC where the workers were protesting a seafood restaurant.