NFL Players Back Indy Hotel Workers

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.unitehere.org/detail.php?ID=3217

May 7, 2010

Indianapolis Colts star Jeff Saturday and DeMaurice Smith, Executive Director of the NFLPA have sent letters to the CEOs of three major hotel companies—Hyatt, Starwood, and Host—expressing concern over the treatment of workers in non-union hotels in downtown Indianapolis.


Workers in Indianapolis rally in April 2008.

The letters affirm the NFLPA's support for hotel workers organizing in Indianapolis, who are among the lowest paid hotel workers in America. The letters state, "we believe that working people deserve living wages, dignity, respect and freedom to organize without employer intimidation." Additionally, they warn that "the NFL Combine in Indianapolis fills many hotel rooms, and we will do business with hotel companies that treat employees with fairness and respect."

The letters come after years of controversy surrounding labor disputes at the Westin, Hyatt Regency and the Sheraton Keystone Indianapolis, where workers have requested a fair process to choose whether or not to form a union in an environment free of intimidation. The hotels have refused to honor that request.

"We have been struggling for some time to make a better life for ourselves and our families," says Eric Martin, who has worked at the Hyatt Regency for 12 years as a banquet steward. "I make just over $10 an hour, even though I've worked here more than a decade and I just want what every parent wants—a decent life for my daughter. It means a lot to know that the players—who work hard on the field to please their fans, just like we work hard to please our guests at the hotels—are behind us."

Currently, there are no union hotels in Indianapolis, and workers here are among the lowest paid hotel workers of any major city in the United States. Housekeepers in Indianapolis earn around $7.50 an hour, as compared to housekeepers in Chicago working for the same national companies, who earn $14.60 an hour.

FULL story at link.

[Yuugal]

1. K&R

[SocialistLez]

2. I hope they are successful.

How can they make $7.50 when the minimum wage is $7.75 I believe?

In any case, I'd expect those kind of wages in Arkansas but not Indianapolis. That is disgusting!

[laughingliberal]

3. K & R nt

[Brickbat]

4. This is awesome.

I wish the NFLPA were more active in labor disputes, as an AFL-CIO affiliate. I do like what they do.

[AwakeAtLast]

5. Jeff Saturday does some great things around Indianapolis