This has been a big week for our strike. Support for the strike continues to grow and we know we are winning.
More than 1,000 Marriott hotel workers filled San Francisco City Hall on Friday as Supervisors pledged support for strike at rare special hearing
BREAKING:
Urgent special hearing of Board of Supervisors on #MarriottStrike begins. Hundreds more striking @Marriott workers have gathered in city hall.#1job #unitehere #1u pic.twitter.com/4nJNtjKJwY
— UNITE HERE Local 2 #1job (@UniteHereLocal2) November 2, 2018
Avonda Meyers, a housekeeper at the Marriott Marquis, testified alongside Hillary Ronen, the San Francisco District 9 Supervisor.
“It’s almost impossible to live in the city as it is. I can’t afford to pay more for my health care out of pocket. I don’t think we’re asking for too much. We just want one job to be enough.”
– Avonda Meyers, housekeeper @Marriott Marquis#MarriottStrike #1job #unitehere #1u pic.twitter.com/KEDI8XcYK9
— UNITE HERE Local 2 #1job (@UniteHereLocal2) November 2, 2018
“The @Marriott strikers are the face of San Francisco’s working class. They are our neighbors and friends. They represent the best of what San Francisco has always been.” – @HillaryRonen#MarriottStrike #1job #unitehere #1u pic.twitter.com/Ut585ZU6QB
— UNITE HERE Local 2 #1job (@UniteHereLocal2) November 2, 2018
At Locals 2850 and 2, the Mayors of Oakland and San Francisco urged Marriott to listen to us: make one job enough, and settle the strike everywhere.
BREAKING: The mayors of San Francisco and Oakland, @LondonBreed and @LibbySchaaf, urge @MarriottIntl CEO Arne Sorenson to work with @unitehere to end the hotel #strike by thousands of workers. Letter obtained by @KQEDnews pic.twitter.com/PVE5UYFve3
— Ted Goldberg (@TedrickG) November 2, 2018
That leads us to some breaking news from our union family on strike in Oakland at Local 2850.
On Friday members of UNITE HERE Local 2850 at the Oakland City Center Marriott ratified an agreement with Marriott and will end our strike as of Saturday. We thank our allies who supported us in our fight for jobs that are enough to live on in Oakland. We will continue to support the thousands of workers who remain on strike at Marriott hotels across the bay and across the country. When workers in those cities secure agreements that are enough to live on, we will share further details of our historic agreement.
On to more highlights. . .
Rep. Tulsi Gabbard issued a statement supporting Hawaii Local 5 strikers. Rep. Gabbard is an advocate of fair wages throughout Hawaii, she’s the first Samoan American and first Hindu member of the U.S. Congress. As we’re fighting and staying strong, more people recognize that One Job Should be Enough.
She says:
“While Marriott makes billions of dollars in profits every year, many of their workers in Hawai‘i and across the country are living in poverty – forced to work two or three jobs just to make ends meet due to a high cost of living. With a thriving and profitable tourism industry, employers need to recognize and value the hard-working men and women who take care of and serve our guests with aloha and provide them with a great experience. In Hawai‘i, we have the fourth highest rate of residents living in poverty in the country. This is unacceptable. One full-time job should be enough for our working men and women to keep a roof over their heads and provide for their families.”
Local 5 strikers also hit a notable milestone in their strike
A Unite Here Local 5 hotel workers strike marked its 25th day today, making it the union’s longest-running hotel strike in nearly three decades. (@uniteherehawaii) #MarriottStrike pic.twitter.com/YeovYbLAYA
— Star-Advertiser (@StarAdvertiser) November 2, 2018
At Boston’s Local 26, strikers celebrated El Jolgorio, the largest Latino holiday gala in New England, for moving their annual gala from the Westin Waterfront Hotel.
Thank you to @ElJolgorio, supporter of UMass Boston’s Talented and Gifted Latino Program, for moving your Annual Gala from the Westin Boston Waterfront, where workers are ON STRIKE! #MarriottStrike #1job #solidarity pic.twitter.com/AqIB1w5FR5
— UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26) November 2, 2018
Legendary member of the Wu-Tang Clan Method Man posed with fans, strikers, and our message on his way to a show in Boston Friday.
We got a little love from @methodman of the Wu-Tang Clan at our picket line tonight 🎶 #26chambers #marriottstrike #1job pic.twitter.com/aKTJuYTU2m
— UNITE HERE Local 26 (@UNITEHERE26) November 3, 2018
Local 19 in San Jose continues to get press coverage over their commitment to the strike during Twitch Con. Strikers remained steadfast and determined to win, impressing members of the gaming industry. Some gamers canceled their workshops, refusing the cross the picket line.
“We think it’s fair to spend time with our families instead of having two or three full-time jobs” says member Sonia Fabian. Read @evanmalmgren’s article about our strike line and TwitchCon via @thenation https://t.co/WSr4y3i8j1
— UNITE HERE Local 19 (@UNITEHERE_19) November 2, 2018
Our union family at AFSCME brought lunch to Local 30 strikers in San Diego.
A big Labor Hug to our brothers and sisters from @afscme3299 for bringing lunch to the @WestinGaslampSD picket line today!! Thanks for your solidarity and constant support, Local 3299! #MarriottStrike #1Job pic.twitter.com/2ozBbruX5u
— UNITE HERE Local 30 (@UNITEHERE30) November 2, 2018
Local 30 member Christopher shared his one job story for our cameras as their historic strike at the Westin Gaslamp wages on
"I'm on strike…not just for me but for everyone else,…I have 2 jobs, my other job is Marriott Vacation Club. I work overnight over there, and here at @WestinGaslampSD I work day time,…I have to work 2 jobs to keep my house running, it's very difficult." #MarriottStrike #1Job pic.twitter.com/1HNuJGaebf
— UNITE HERE Local 30 (@UNITEHERE30) November 1, 2018
Local 24 kept up the energy while picketing in the rain!
One day longer, one day stronger on the line at the Westin Book Cadillac. We’ll be out here until we win, rain or shine ☔️✊🏾 ☔️#1job #MarriottStrike pic.twitter.com/wZgeTIv6zz
— UNITEHERE! Local 24 (@UHLocal24) November 1, 2018
In case you missed it—strikers participated in a global week of action with the International Union of Food, Agricultural, Hotel, Restaurant, Catering, Tobacco and Allied Workers’ Association (IUF) union to fight sexual harassment and win respect for workers worldwide.
Marriott workers still fighting
Marriott workers keep fighting for their rights, and showing during the housekeepers global week of action that their struggle is a global demand for have decent jobs, safe and with rights #MakeMyWorkplaceSafe #fairhousekeeping #WorkersOfMarriott #MeTooMarriott #StopGBVatWork
Posted by Make my workplace safe on Tuesday, October 30, 2018
Word of our strike has spread to Marriott workers from all corners of the globe where Marriott operates. . .
In this video, our union family from Spain gives us a shout-out. Workers from Spain support our fight and think we should have enough to support our families.
In another beautiful display of solidarity, the Catholic Labor Network encouraged their members to support the strike.
ONE JOB SHOULD BE ENOUGH: What the Marriott Strike Is All About
The practices of the Marriott Employees Federal Credit Union were exposed in this new article by The Nation. “How Marriott Fuels Racial Inequality.”
The harder we fight, the bigger we win!