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Hyatt's problems increase as chain is boycotted
The Hyatt hotel chain is facing more trouble after firing nearly 100 housekeepers and replacing them with contract workers. Though a rep for Hyatt has denied that the fired workers were "tricked" into training their replacements and were not given severance, it seems the public isn't buying it.
Union officials at the Boston Taxi Drivers Association have said that the 1700 drivers in the union will boycott Hyatt Boston locations, refusing to pick-up or drop-off fares there, unless the housekeepers are reinstated. The Massachusetts Governor has even gotten in on the action, saying that unless Hyatt rehires the fired workers, he'll direct all state employees to stay at other hotels.
In a letter he sent to the CEO of Hyatt, the Governor said that while he understood that tough economic times meant making tough decisions, he thought that the manner in which the staff was let go was "so inconsistent with the expressed values of the Hyatt organization and basic fairness" that he did not think that "any other remedy other than full reinstatement" was appropriate. He also said he didn't wish to instate a boycott but that the workers were treated so unfairly that he had no choice but to do so.
Of course, Hyatt fired back, saying "We do not understand why the Governor is putting more Massachusetts jobs at risk instead of working with us to find jobs for employees affected by the realities of these unprecedented economic challenges." Looks like neither side will be backing down, and the only people who'll suffer will be the workers.
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Filed under: North America, United States, Hotels and Accommodations, News
Reader Comments (Page 5 of 5)
Zach Sep 26th 2009 9:56AM
We just stayed at the Hyatt Regency in Austin, Texas, and were disappointed. It'd just been renovated, but in way that reminded me of a bath fitter rather a proper makeover.
We also were moving over points from a different hotel and found the employees to be difficult.
bing Sep 26th 2009 10:38AM
The governor is a dipshit for getting involved in this. I'm going to boycott the government until all 4 million Americans get their jobs back.
samara Oct 21st 2009 9:16PM
it's about time the government got involved in a rightous deed !( go gov ) and do you really care if that hotel goes out of businuss?! it's a chain people! sometimes people dont know what they had until it's gone! would be a very effective lesson for hyatt to learn . unfortuantely they wont, because they have more hotels to cover the loss . if i remained a employye after hyatt decieved the other workers i believe i would be ashamed of myself for being a part of such a corruption i would join the unjust and give them the support they justly needed! wake up people there are strength in numbers! keep on pushing on housekeepers! fight for what you deserve because the rich wont give it to you! //////// all hyatt employess you now know they cant be trusted!
VERN Sep 26th 2009 11:48AM
The governor should call the o-man in D.C., I'll bet you a majority of those fired workers were hispanic or some other nationality, and this will piss of the o-man real bad, hyatt will have to relent.
Diane Sep 26th 2009 11:45AM
Here in Florida, "contract workers" are always from eastern Europe or Russia......could that be the case with the Hyatt? If so, then a boycott of EVERY Hyatt would be the best option!
pete Sep 26th 2009 12:23PM
Union thugs forcing their "values" on the general public once again. Didn't you dummies learn anything with ACORN and obama???
JK Sep 26th 2009 12:56PM
Ok you winey unionites. Let's look at $17/hr plus benefits. The benefits cost equal to your wage. Who do you think pays the labor cost? I would rather hire someone making $17 plus some benefits, then all the benefits union employees receive. Look there used to be some 40 million back in the day, but trying to remain competitive in todays business environment, you probably down to 25% of that. Strongholds in the major cities in the Northeast, North and some on the West Coast. Outside of that numbers all falling all over. How can anyone look at themselves and say I feel that I deserve what my union brother makes, even when I am pulling his weight? Good employees will always find a way to make the money. Followers and the weak will always be the cry babies. I only wish some of you union employees could see how much your union leaders spend, graft and so on. Then you really will think that you are working for the wrong organization. Always cross the picket line, so as to not lose your house. Many union members have lost there house because of ignorant behavior. It's never to late to change.
Hilbert Sep 26th 2009 1:22PM
WAY TO GO HYATT DOWN WITH THE UNIONS THEY DO NOTHING BUT BREAK THE BACKS OF BUSINESS AND THE ECONOMY
Hilbert Sep 26th 2009 1:22PM
AS FOR THE GOVERNOR OF MASS. IF HE WANTS TO STEP IN AND CAUSE PROBLEMS LET HIM KNOW YOU WILL IMMEDIATELY CLOSE ALL OF YOUR LOCATIONS IN THE STATE AND MOVE TO WHERE YOU WILL BE APPRECIATED.
Janet Sep 26th 2009 1:40PM
Yes Joe. Texas is one of the most corrupt states so don't try to criticize another. The unions have helped many a person. Why does Texas have the most uninsured people in the nation? Maybe they don't have union.
sosted Sep 26th 2009 2:12PM
AMERICANS WITH NO ABILITIES ACT (AWNAA)
WASHINGTON, DC (AP) - President Obama and the US Congress are considering sweeping legislation, which provides new benefits for many Americans. The Americans With No Abilities Act (AWNAA) is being hailed as a major legislation by advocates of the millions of Americans who lack any real skills or ambition.
"Roughly 50 percent of Americans do not possess the competence and drive necessary to carve out a meaningful role for themselves in society," said House Speaker Nancy Pelosi. "We can no longer stand by and allow People of Inability to be ridiculed and passed over. With this legislation, employers will no longer be able to grant special favors to a small group of workers, simply because they do a better job, or have some idea of what they are doing."
The President pointed to the success of the US Postal Service, which has a long-standing policy of providing opportunity without regard to performance. Approximately 74 percent of postal employees lack job skills, making this agency the single largest US employer of Persons of inability.
Private sector industries with good records of nondiscrimination against the Inept include retail sales (72%) and home improvement stores. The DMV also has a great record of hiring Persons of Inability (63%).
Under the Americans With No Abilities Act, more than 25 million "middle man" positions will be created, with important-sounding titles but little real responsibility, thus providing an illusory sense of purpose and performance.
Mandatory non-performance- based raises and promotions will be given, to guarantee upward mobility for even the most unremarkable employees. The legislation provides substantial tax breaks to corporations, which maintain a significant level of Persons of Inability in middle positions, and gives a tax credit to small and medium businesses that agree to hire one clueless worker for every two talented hires.
Finally, the AWNAA ACT contains tough new measures to make it more difficult to discriminate against the Non-abled, banning discriminatory interview questions such as "Do you have any goals for the future?" or "Do you have any skills or experience which relate to this job?”
`As a Non-Abled Person, I can't be expected to keep up with people who have something going for them,' said Mary Lou Gertz, who lost her position as a lug-nut twister at the GM plant in Flint , Michigan , due to her inability to remember `righty tighty, lefty loosey.'
`This new law should be real good for people like me,' Gertz added. With the passage of this bill, Gertz and millions of other untalented citizens will finally see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Said Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL), “As a Senator with no abilities, I believe the same privileges that elected officials enjoy ought to be extended to every American with no abilities. It is our duty as lawmakers to provide each and every American citizen, regardless of his or her inadequacy, with some sort of job in this great nation and a good salary with it”
WiseOwl Sep 26th 2009 2:47PM
Reply to Sosted: If the business community is so smart, WHY did they fail so miserably? You blame government but government leaders are made up of the PEOPLE, mainly from the business community. The business community and government leaders are in bed together and make the laws favorable to the CROOKS in business. Ours have become a NATION OF GREEDY CROOKS!! All of you are playing dumb saying that you never saw this downfall coming. Well, you HAD to see it (I did). You just did not care as long as you were getting YOUR big pay days and you thought that by packaging those loans into a muddled up mess, to sell on Wall Street, that someone else would take the fall and that is what happened. Your so-called business acumen created a problem for the taxpayer -- just the way you smart CROOKS had the government to set the laws up in your favor. You business greedy CROOKS won't let Capitalism work the way it is supposed to.
Bud Sep 26th 2009 2:57PM
i agree that is why i said im not sure its a good thing cause it will depend on if ICE is attacking the contractors as well.Only time will tell but my guess is that its a business and they will find a way to give temporary work visa to work here and its a big way to make sure they are collecting taxes on illegals that have all the jobs.So im with you on this and i would love to see the work force of that contract company.The Government is in no doubt finding ways to make sure everyone pays them.Peace
Kobaay Sep 27th 2009 12:26PM
It's called playing the game. since the downturn of the economy, companies have been dropping seasoned well qualified workers in exchange for inexperienced and temporary employees. It's how they trim the fat off paying higher wages due to tenure and the hefty benefit costs. Most jobs have a 90 day to 6 months probation period before new hires are eligible for benefits. The can hire 2 employees for the cost of 1 tenured employeed with a higher wage and benefits. No matter how well you perform your job, you too can become disposable because of it.