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A four-week strike against the Westin Book Cadillac downtown is over -- the second settlement in a seven-city strike against the chain.
Workers who began picketing Oct. 7 on Washington Boulevard ratified a contract with the Marriott-run hotel, their union announces Saturday evening.
"We stood strong in solidarity, and meant it when we said one job should be enough for hotel workers in the city of Detroit," says Nia Winston, president of Unite Here Local 24. Her statement adds:
"We're hopeful that similar progress can be achieved in the six cities still on strike, and the progress made by Marriott here in Detroit shows that they are able to make reasonable movement. What we've achieved will change workers' lives and the hotel industry here in Detroit."
The 160 strikers included doormen, cooks, servers, bartenders, stewards and housekeepers. Their contract expired June 30. The walkoiut followerd months of negotiations.
Local 24 president Nia Winston addresses members recently. (Unite Here photo)
No details about the settlement are disclosed. The union says it covers wages, health care, benefits and working conditions.
"Unite Here Local 24 will share full details in the new contracts after the other six cities out on strike have reached agreements," the emailed media release adds. "All six of cities are either scheduled to be back in bargaining or seeking dates to return to bargaining shortly."
An Oct. 20 statement from the hotel chain says, in part:
Marriott is a competitive employer that pays significantly above the minimum wage in most markets and provides generous benefits.
For years, Marriott has invested in the company's workforce with benefits and training particularly aimed at the company-s non-highly compensated associates.
While we respect our employees' right to voice their opinions and participate in demonstrations and this work stopage, we are disappointed that Unite Here has chosen to resort to a strike.
That statement two weeks ago said the firm "activated our contingency plans to ensure that we are able to continue to operate. . . We're grateful to our guests for their patience during this periord."
The other strikes are in Boston, Seattle, San Diego, San Jose, Honolulu and Maui. Workers in Oakland, Calif., also approved an agreement in recent days.
-- Alan Stamm
