Hyatt to pay ousted workers $1m in boycott-ending deal

[Sherman A1]

Hyatt Hotels Corp. has agreed to pay $1 million to 98 Boston-area housekeepers who were fired five years ago and replaced by lower-paid, outsourced workers, at the time triggering a backlash that drew national attention — and a stern scolding from Governor Deval Patrick.

The settlement, to be announced Friday, could give some workers as much as $40,000, depending on their years of service.

In exchange, the hospitality workers’ union that brokered the deal will call off its five-year boycott at the three full-service Hyatts in the area. The union estimates the boycott cost the hotel chain about $6 million.

“There are plenty of companies that make token gestures, and this is not token,” said Brian Lang, president of the hospitality union, Unite Here Local 26. “This is very significant.”

http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2014/09/25/hyatt-give-fired-housekeepers-million/AfRd71FRhVVfRjIKAMxMzK/story.html

[merrily]

1. Great news. Takeaway #1: boycotts WORK.

Takeaway #2: Unions are essential for many reasons.

Everyone knows that unions fought, and still do, for safe working conditions in mines, factories, etc. That fight gave us things like OSHA. Some of us this might never have been born but for that fight, because our ancestor might have died unnecessarily because of an unsafe workplace.

And everyone knows that unions fought for a living wage. Some us or our ancestors might have had to quit school at 16 to help parents put food on the table, but for unions.

And so on. You get the picture. But, unions are always ways for us to spread the word.

The right spreads the word for its activism through organizations like churches, youth groups, Scouting, etc.

We used to spread the word through unions, as is done in Europe. But, then, we allowed union busting laws and actions.

Please, please support unions so they can support us.

[Crewleader]

2. +1

Please, please support unions so they can support us~well said merrily!

[merrily]

3. Thanks!

My entire family, parents, uncles, aunts, cousins, would have slit their wrists before crossing a picket line. We're getting stoooopid about unions now. Look at the South, which used to be known as the home of the "runaway shop." Look what "right to work" laws got them. Poverty.