Alaskans Struggle for Dignity & Respect in Anchorage Hotel

For over three years Alaskan workers at the Hilton Anchorage have been fighting for affordable healthcare, safe workloads, job security protections, and reasonable wage increases in the face of out-of-state corporate employers, Columbia Sussex. Dozens of Community members came out, in spite of the not quite Spring  temps, to Picket the Anchorage Hilton on May 3rd & show their support for Good Jobs in Alaska!

SUPPORTING GOOD ALASKA JOBS


Boycott Sheraton

For over three years, Sheraton management has been breaking federal labor laws by enforcing sub-standard working conditions. Texas owned & managed Sheraton Anchorage was found guilty, by an Administrative Law Judge with the National Labor Relations Board of disciplining  & threatening its employees, Alaskan workers, members of our community. The Boycott of the Sheraton Anchorage continues with strong showings of support from the residents on Anchorage & Alaska. This picket was held on April 15th, 2012

Enough is Enough!

Federal judge issues injunction against Anchorage Sheraton hotel operator

For Immediate Release

February 6, 2012
Contact: Matthew Fennell
(c) 919.961.3379, (wk) 907.272.6036


Federal judge issues injunction against Anchorage Sheraton hotel operator

On February 3, 2012 a federal judge issued a preliminary injunction against Remington Hospitality, the Texas based operator of the Sheraton hotel in Anchorage. This injunction comes over five months after a National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) Administrative Law Judge concluded that the hotel violated numerous federal labor laws in its effort to end recognition of its workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 878.

Court ordered injunctions against employers are rare and are typically issued to prevent employees from suffering irreparable harm while NLRB decisions or appeals are pending. In this case, because of the quantity and seriousness of unfair labor practices committed by the hotel, the injunction will require the Sheraton to take numerous steps to remedy past unlawful conduct against its employees. Furthermore, it will require the hotel to restore the terms and conditions of employment as they existed prior to the hotel’s unlawful declaration of impasse in past union negotiations. These terms and conditions include (but are not limited to) a reduction of workloads in the Housekeeping department, restoration of the employer-paid union medical insurance plan, recognition of the workers union and resumption of union negotiations.

“The actions of the court demonstrate that the Lord hears the cry of the oppressed for justice, so our legal system can still attend to the people’s cry for justice. [These] wealthy corporations, with their stables of well-paid lawyers, cannot defeat a people united in their demand for respect and fairness,” said Pastor Glenn Peterson from Central Lutheran Church; one of many community leaders that has maintained his support of the workers throughout the last three years.

The injunction comes after three years of struggle by Sheraton workers to protect their benefits, their working conditions and their union from the employer’s egregious assaults. To date, the struggle has been marked by the filing of over 40 unfair labor practice charges against Sheraton management, a lengthy NLRB hearing, two meritless lawsuits filed by the hotel (one against the Union, one against the NLRB itself), an ongoing boycott, frequent picket lines and an overwhelming amount of Anchorage community support.

The injunction is considered by many to be a major victory and a significant step towards labor peace at the hotel, Sheraton Bellman Troy Prichacham explains, “we have been looking forward to this day for a long time; however our struggle isn’t over yet. We will continue to ask the public to boycott the Sheraton until we have secured a fair union contract.”

Local 878 represents over 1,400 hospitality workers across the state of Alaska.

For questions or comment, please contact Matthew Fennell at 907.272.6036

National Labor Relations Board Takes Sheraton Anchorage to Federal Court

For Immediate Release: National Labor Relations Board files lawsuit in federal court against Sheraton Anchorage

On December 9, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act, the federal labor law that governs most private-sector workers, filed a lawsuit in an Alaskan federal court against Texas-based Remington Lodging & Hospitality, the corporation that operates the Sheraton Hotel & Spa in Anchorage. The lawsuit stems from a long-running dispute between the Sheraton and its workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 878. The lawsuit will be heard by Honorable Timothy Burgess in Anchorage Federal Courtroom 1 on December 29, 2011 at 1:30pm.

In its lawsuit, the NLRB asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction against the Sheraton that would require the hotel to stop violating federal labor laws and resume recognition of, and negotiations with, Local 878. This lawsuit comes less than four months after an NLRB Administrative Law Judge concluded after a 40-day hearing that the Sheraton acted unlawfully in its campaign to break the workers’ union.

If the federal court grants the injunction, the hotel will be required to return working conditions to the standards established by the long-standing union contract at the hotel. Return to these standards will be a milestone victory for the hotel’s hourly workers. They include, among other things, the reduction of workloads for housekeepers, restoration of the pre-existing (and more affordable) union medical insurance plan and resumed participation in the union pension plan. The injunction will also compel the hotel to take numerous other steps to remedy past unlawful threats and discipline imposed by the hotel against its employees.

Since 2009, Sheraton workers have been struggling to protect their benefits, their working conditions and their union from the employer’s egregious assaults. To date, this high-profile labor dispute has been marked by the filing of over 40 unfair labor practice charges, a lengthy NLRB hearing, two meritless lawsuits filed by the hotel (one against the Union, one against the NLRB itself), an ongoing boycott, frequent picket lines and an overwhelming amount of Anchorage community support. While workers feel optimistic about the injunction and the prospect of returning to the bargaining table, they want to remind the public that their struggle is not over and that they continue to ask the community to boycott the Sheraton until the dispute is resolved.

For questions or comment, please contact Dmitri Iglitzin (dl) 206.257-6003

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Description: Local878buttonshadow8inFor Immediate Release
December 14, 2011

Contact: Dmitri Iglitzin, Counsel
(direct line) 206.257-6003

[email protected]

National Labor Relations Board files lawsuit in federal court against Sheraton Anchorage

On December 9, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act, the federal labor law that governs most private-sector workers, filed a lawsuit in an Alaskan federal court against Texas-based Remington Lodging & Hospitality, the corporation that operates the Sheraton Hotel & Spa in Anchorage. The lawsuit stems from a long-running dispute between the Sheraton and its workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 878. The lawsuit will be heard by Honorable Timothy Burgess in Anchorage Federal Courtroom 1 on December 29, 2011 at 1:30pm.

In its lawsuit, the NLRB asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction against the Sheraton that would require the hotel to stop violating federal labor laws and resume recognition of, and negotiations with, Local 878. This lawsuit comes less than four months after an NLRB Administrative Law Judge concluded after a 40-day hearing that the Sheraton acted unlawfully in its campaign to break the workers’ union.

If the federal court grants the injunction, the hotel will be required to return working conditions to the standards established by the long-standing union contract at the hotel. Return to these standards will be a milestone victory for the hotel’s hourly workers. They include, among other things, the reduction of workloads for housekeepers, restoration of the pre-existing (and more affordable) union medical insurance plan and resumed participation in the union pension plan. The injunction will also compel the hotel to take numerous other steps to remedy past unlawful threats and discipline imposed by the hotel against its employees.

For Immediate Release
December 14, 2011

Contact: Dmitri Iglitzin, Counsel
(direct line) 206.257-6003

[email protected]

National Labor Relations Board files lawsuit in federal court against Sheraton Anchorage

On December 9, 2011, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), the agency that enforces the National Labor Relations Act, the federal labor law that governs most private-sector workers, filed a lawsuit in an Alaskan federal court against Texas-based Remington Lodging & Hospitality, the corporation that operates the Sheraton Hotel & Spa in Anchorage. The lawsuit stems from a long-running dispute between the Sheraton and its workers’ union, UNITE HERE Local 878. The lawsuit will be heard by Honorable Timothy Burgess in Anchorage Federal Courtroom 1 on December 29, 2011 at 1:30pm.

In its lawsuit, the NLRB asks the court to issue a preliminary injunction against the Sheraton that would require the hotel to stop violating federal labor laws and resume recognition of, and negotiations with, Local 878. This lawsuit comes less than four months after an NLRB Administrative Law Judge concluded after a 40-day hearing that the Sheraton acted unlawfully in its campaign to break the workers’ union.

If the federal court grants the injunction, the hotel will be required to return working conditions to the standards established by the long-standing union contract at the hotel. Return to these standards will be a milestone victory for the hotel’s hourly workers. They include, among other things, the reduction of workloads for housekeepers, restoration of the pre-existing (and more affordable) union medical insurance plan and resumed participation in the union pension plan. The injunction will also compel the hotel to take numerous other steps to remedy past unlawful threats and discipline imposed by the hotel against its employees.

Since 2009, Sheraton workers have been struggling to protect their benefits, their working conditions and their union from the employer’s egregious assaults. To date, this high-profile labor dispute has been marked by the filing of over 40 unfair labor practice charges, a lengthy NLRB hearing, two meritless lawsuits filed by the hotel (one against the Union, one against the NLRB itself), an ongoing boycott, frequent picket lines and an overwhelming amount of Anchorage community support. While workers feel optimistic about the injunction and the prospect of returning to the bargaining table, they want to remind the public that their struggle is not over and that they continue to ask the community to boycott the Sheraton until the dispute is resolved.

For questions or comment, please contact Dmitri Iglitzin (dl) 206.257-6003

Since 2009, Sheraton workers have been struggling to protect their benefits, their working conditions and their union from the employer’s egregious assaults. To date, this high-profile labor dispute has been marked by the filing of over 40 unfair labor practice charges, a lengthy NLRB hearing, two meritless lawsuits filed by the hotel (one against the Union, one against the NLRB itself), an ongoing boycott, frequent picket lines and an overwhelming amount of Anchorage community support. While workers feel optimistic about the injunction and the prospect of returning to the bargaining table, they want to remind the public that their struggle is not over and that they continue to ask the community to boycott the Sheraton until the dispute is resolved.

For questions or comment, please contact Dmitri Iglitzin (dl) 206.257-6003

Occupy Anchorage and Sheraton hotel workers stand together

November 4, 2011 – Activists from Occupy Anchorage joined dozens of hotel workers and community supporters on the picket line outside the Sheraton Anchorage hotel. They stood together to remind greedy corporations, like the Texas based 1%ers that own and operate the Sheraton, that the 99% will not tolerate abuses of workers rights in Alaska.

Recently, an Administrative Law Judge with the National Labor Relations Board found that Sheraton managers had unlawfully coerced, threatened and terminated union activists. Furthermore, the Judge found that Sheraton management unlawfully stopped recognizing the workers’ union at the hotel. While Sheraton management attempts to appeal the judge’s decision,  workers continue their struggle to restore fair working conditions and their union rights.

Workers continue to ask the public to boycott their hotel and to date, dozens of Alaskan organizations have supported their requests by moving their business from the Sheraton to other Anchorage area hotels.

More information on the Sheraton struggle at: http://www.unitehere878.org/boycott-advisory/sheraton-anchorage/

Anchorage Hilton Housekeepers demand fair workloads!

On October 20, a delegation of Hilton Housekeepers visited the office of the hotel general manager and made their demands clear. “We want fair workloads” one housekeeper said, “we are overworked and many of us have pain in our backs, wrists and knees.” another worker explained. Midway through the delegation, one participant unveiled a letter signed by over 95% of the workers in the housekeeping department. The letter was addressed to the General Manager and the owner of the hotel and echoed their workload concerns.

Columbia-Sussex acquired the 600 room Anchorage Hilton in early 2006. Since the union contract expired in 2008, Columbia-Sussex has taken significant steps to compromise the long-held work standards at the hotel. Workers have had to endure over three years of wage freezes, workload increases and a refusal to pay necessary costs to keep healthcare affordable for the workers. Furthermore, in the July of 2010 the National Labor Relations board filed official complaints against the hotel alleging unlawful behavior – a month later Columbia-Sussex agreed to settle the charges.

In the last four years, workers have taken bold steps to defend their working conditions at the hotel. In the Spring of 2009, over 80% of workers took the bold step of signing a petition that announced that they would call on the public to honor a boycott of their hotel. Today, that boycott remains in effect.

Report Back – Local 878 Community Briefing

On October 5th, dozens of community activists and leaders attended Local 878’s briefing on the status of the Sheraton Anchorage campaign. Politicians, religious leaders, labor union representatives and heads of local community groups joined workers to discuss the campaign to defend their livelihoods against the Sheraton’s unlawful and shameless actions. After the briefing, workers and community members formed a picket line outside the Sheraton hotel.

After a struggle that has lasted over two years, Sheraton workers are closer than ever to securing justice at their workplace. In August, an Administrative Law Judge issued his ruling that the Sheraton hotel violated federal labor laws. However, until workers secure a fair union contract, they continue to ask the public to boycott their hotel.

Union in Sheraton workers’ fight scores legal victory

By MARY PEMBERTON
Associated Press

A local union leader declared temporary victory Thursday for workers in a federal administrative judge’s ruling in a fight at the Sheraton Anchorage, but said the boycott of the hotel is not over.

“We will continue to fight,” said Marvin Jones, president of Unite Here Local 878. “We feel we will be victorious when this is over.”

The labor dispute with Remington Lodging & Hospitality, the operator of the Sheraton Anchorage, has gone on for over two years, the union said. The latest ruling came Aug. 25 in a decision from Administrative Law Judge Gregory Z. Meyerson in Washington, D.C.

Administrative Law Judge Finds Sheraton Anchorage Hotel Guilty of Unlawful Behavior

NLRB Administrative Law Judge Finds Sheraton Anchorage Hotel Guilty of Committing Numerous Unfair Labor Practices Against UNITE HERE Local 878 and its Members

On August 25, 2011, Administrative Law Judge Gregory Z. Meyerson issued a long-awaited verdict on the sixteen separate allegations of unlawful behavior which had been lodged against Remington Lodging & Hospitality LLC, the operator of the Sheraton Anchorage hotel, by the National Labor Relations Board (the Board), the federal agency authorized to enforce the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), which is the law that governs labor relations for most private sector employers. This ruling brings Sheraton workers one step closer to justice.

Basing his conclusions on the evidence that was presented before him during 40 days of hearing, Judge Meyerson’s ruling is a searing indictment of the Sheraton Anchorage’s reign of terror and abuse directed against its workers and their union, UNITE HERE Local 878.

The Board first brought most of these charges against the Sheraton Anchorage almost eighteen months ago, on May 28, 2010, and added more on August 17, 2010.   Now, at long last, Judge Meyerson has concluded that the Sheraton Anchorage violated federal labor law in numerous ways, including:

(1) unlawfully disciplining and suspending employees for presenting a petition to the hotel’s General Manager;

(2) unlawfully firing four employees for passing out handbills to the public outside the doors of the hotel;

(3) unlawfully demanding that workers stop wearing union buttons;

(4) unlawfully enforcing multiple illegal rules contained in the hotel’s “employee handbook”;

(5) unlawfully implementing numerous bargaining proposals, including raising the minimum number of rooms housekeepers are required to clean from 15 to 17, eliminating paid 30-minute meal breaks, and imposing fees on cafeteria purchases, without first notifying the appropriate federal agency of its intent to do so;

(6) unlawfully replacing the existing, union-sponsored medical insurance plan with a different, company-selected plan, without first bargaining in good faith about this proposal with Local 878;

(7) unlawfully coercing employees to sign a petition indicating their desire to reject Local 878 as their union; and thereafter

(8) unlawfully refusing to recognize or bargain with Local 878 as the lawful representative of the hotel’s hourly workers.

By way of remedy, Judge Meyerson ordered the hotel to undo all of its unlawful acts, including (among other things) eliminating all of the unlawful provisions of its employee handbook; reinstating the rule that workers need only clean 15 rooms per shift; reinstituting the earlier, union-sponsored medical insurance plan; repaying workers for any out-of-pocket expenses they incurred that would have been covered by the prior plan; making workers whole for any uncompensated 30-minute meal breaks and any fees they paid for cafeteria food; and expunging all records of unlawful discipline imposed on workers while making those workers whole for any economic damage they suffered as a result of that discipline, plus interest.

Most importantly, Judge Meyerson ordered the hotel to recognize that its workers have the right to make complaints about their wages and working conditions, the right to wear union buttons, the right to petition their General Manager for relief, and the right to handbill the public for support – all rights that the hotel had inexcusably and unlawfully previously denied to them.  To make sure that workers understand that they really do have these rights, Judge Meyerson took the unusual step of also ordering that a densely-written 5-page notice setting forth their legal rights under the NLRA be publicly read aloud, in both English and in Spanish, to the assembled employees of the hotel by a high-level corporate executive in the present of an agent of the Board — or by a Board agent in the present of a high-level corporate executive.

Finally, the judge ordered the hotel to acknowledge that Local 878 still represents the hotel’s hourly employees, as it did before the hotel commenced its illegal activities, and to recommence bargaining with the union, this time in good faith with the intention of reaching an agreement.

The scope and importance of this decision cannot easily be overemphasized.   During the time period since the Sheraton Anchorage embarked on its campaign to rid itself of the union that represents its workers, it has suffered one significant legal defeat after another.   First, starting in May of 2010, the Board found merit in countless unfair labor practice charges that had been leveled against the hotel by the union.  Six months later, in November of 2010, a United States District Judge in Anchorage dismissed the hotel’s lawsuit against the Board, which it had brought less than six weeks earlier in a futile effort to try to stop the Board from enforcing the NLRA.   On August 4 of this year, just a few weeks before Judge Meyerson’s ruling, yet another federal judge in Anchorage dismissed with prejudice a lawsuit for defamation and tortious interference that the hotel had filed against Local 878.

While awaiting Judge Meyerson’s ruling, Local 878 has filed 30 additional unfair labor practice charges against the Anchorage Sheraton, alleging that the hotel has engaged in even more acts of intimidation and retaliation against union activists and supporters.  Local 878 anticipates that the Board will take further legal action against the hotel, in support of the workers and their union, sometime in the next few weeks or months.  In the meantime the consumer boycott of the hotel remains in effect and Sheraton workers remain hopeful that this ruling will bring them one significant step closer to resolving the labor dispute.

Please contact Marvin Jones if you have any questions:  907-272-6591 (wk) or (907) 229-7801 (cell).

Senator Makes Controversial Appearance at Anchorage Hilton – The MudFlats

There are two large hotels in Anchorage that are currently under boycott for mistreatment of workers – the Anchorage Sheraton and the Anchorage Hilton. On Tuesday, August 9, The Mudflats reported that three community leaders were expelled from the office of the General Manager of the Sheraton when they came to express the concerns of the community regarding the hotel’s labor practices.

And Friday, The Hilton was the site for the latest event in a long history of protesting and picketing. That day, Senator Mark Begich was slated to address the Building Owners and Management Association (BOMA), and would have to cross the picket line to do it. The Senator arrived and entered the Hilton through a side door. There were repeated chants of, “Shame on Begich!” One woman shouted, “Only a coward sneaks in the side door!”…

Read the whole article on the MudFlats blog