------------------------- Via Workers World News Service Reprinted from the July 8, 2004 issue of Workers World newspaper -------------------------
1,000 HOTEL WORKERS RALLY ON EVE OF MERGER TO FORM UNITE HERE
By Steven Ceci Washington, D.C.
In a display of solidarity and determination, over 1,000 hotel workers and their supporters marched and rallied in downtown Washington, D.C., on June 24.
"Without you, the hotels are nothing but a pile of bricks and mortar," said Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees President Bruce Raynor, addressing the festive rally in Farragut Square.
UNITE and the Hotel and Restaurant Employees union will merge into one of the nation's biggest unions next month, bringing increased clout to contract negotiations in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Washington and elsewhere. "Today's rally is just the beginning!" promised Local 25 Secretary-Treasurer John Boardman.
The Washington contract expires on Sept. 15. Local 25 will need to build a broad coalition of labor, community and religious support for the hotel workers' struggle to guarantee better wages and benefits, and respect and dignity on the job.
Several other unions were there to show solidarity. They included the State, County and Municipal Workers; Food and Commercial Workers; Service Employees; Operating Engineers; Electrical Workers; as well as the D.C. Building Trades Council.
The march and rally was notable for the strong partici pation of women immigrants from countries of Latin America, Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. They held picket signs in over 10 different languages expressing the need for a just and fair contract.
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