Hundreds Rally in Boston for Hotel Workers’ Union Contract

According to Boston.com, hundreds of hospitality workers rallied in Boston on Labor Day to gather support for their first contract with their hotel’s management.

The employees, many of whom are represented by the Unite Here Local 26 union, work at Hyatt Centric Hotel in downtown Boston and have been negotiating for more than a year with Magna Hospitality Group, which, according to its website, is approved to own and/or operate national hotel franchise brands, including Hyatt, as well as Hilton, Marriott, and InterContinental Hotel Group. A union press release stated that workers are asking for “a fair contract with wages and benefits that match the standard of union hotels in downtown Boston.”

Attending the rally despite a light rain, marchers held signs stating, in both English and Spanish, “the people united will never be defeated,” “union power is people power,” and “solidarity forever.” The crowd, which began the rally at Boston Common, continued to the front of Hyatt Centric Hotel, where supporters then chanted slogans, banged drums, and blew horns for attention.

Hotel room attendant and rally attendee Blanca Murcia said, “At Hyatt Centric, we are paid less than workers at other union hotels, and we have not had a raise in more than one year.”

Others attending the march included Greater Boston Labor Council leadership, members of the Massachusetts Teacher’s Association (MTA), and members of the Service Employees International Union (SEIU)  32BJ Local 615 union. “We made it clear that Boston is a union town!” the MTA tweeted later that day.