#BoycottTrump
aims to Bring Donald Trump to Las Vegas Negotiating Table
Citing
federal law allowing boycotts for the purpose of forcing an employer to honor
their duty to bargain, UNITE HERE, the parent union of the Culinary Union which
is certified as the bargaining representative of workers at Trump Hotel Las
Vegas, has called for a national boycott of businesses Donald J.
Trump owns, has invested in, or has partnered with until the Trump Hotel
Las Vegas honors its legal duty to bargain with the union.
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| No point in boycotting these Trump products... He's already run them into the ground |
The
#BoycottTrump campaign urging customers to not eat, sleep, or play at many
Trump hotels and golf courses comes in the wake of federal officials' denying
Trump Hotel Las Vegas' objections to a December 2015 union election,
during which the majority of workers at the hotel voted to join the Culinary
Union, the largest affiliate of UNITE HERE.
Union
members recently picketed at Trump National Golf Course Los Angeles, announcing
the boycott from inside the clubhouse restaurant, and union locals have planned
further boycott events for September 29 in Waikiki and San
Francisco, and October 1 and 18 in Chicago. More actions are
expected to follow in Virginia, New York and Florida.
"Enough
is enough," said UNITE HERE President D. Taylor.
"While Donald Trumpwaged an indefensible anti-worker and anti-immigrant
presidential campaign, the workers at his Las Vegas hotel fought for
dignity and respect in their workplace. They voted to unionize, they won, and
now the law says Trump must negotiate."
"At
the hotel in the morning we chant 'No Contract, No Peace! No Contract, No
Peace!" said Eleuteria Blanco, a guestroom attendant at the Trump
Hotel Las Vegas. Over 57,000 union workers in Las Vegas have fair
wages, job security, and good health benefits—in stark contrast to workers at
Trump Hotel Las Vegas who pay up to $260 per month for their health insurance,
and are paid approximately$3.00 less per hour in comparison to union
workers on the Strip. "We're not second class workers," Blanco added.
Trump
Hotel Las Vegas management waged a hostile anti-union campaign. Hotel
management hired anti-union labor consultants, paying them more than half a
million dollars. Alleged offenses against management include suspensions
of employees for union activities, as well as threats and interrogations
against union supporters.
"After
a disgraceful anti-union campaign against their own workers, the hotel still
refuses to negotiate with their employees," said Geoconda
Arguello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. "We call on
allies and workers to stand in solidarity in a national boycott
until Donald Trump, the 'Great Negotiator,' comes to the table."
In Canada,
workers at the Trump International Hotel Toronto ratified their first contract
seven months after voting to join UNITE HERE.
Culinary
Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates
of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las
Vegas and Reno, including at most of casino resorts on the Las Vegas
Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in
gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.
The
Culinary Union is Nevada's largest immigrant organization with over
57,000 members – a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 56%
Latino. Members -who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and
food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers- come from 167
countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been
fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men
and women in Nevada for over 80 years.
The
Culinary Union is encouraging Nevada locals, political candidates,
and tourists to avoid staying at/or patronizing hotels under an active labor
dispute such as Station Casinos, Palms Casino Resort, and the Trump Hotel Las
Vegas. To see the full list properties with an active labor dispute, go
to: VegasTravelAlert.org.
