CROWNE PLAZA HOTEL: ORGANIZING NEWS

Rochester is hot in the summer, and so is the organizing campaign at the Crowne Plaza Hotel.

We’re in the middle of an intense phase of community and worker action. That action is renewing the energy and commitment of the Crowne Plaza workers, who are fighting a long battle for the right to make their own decision about unionization.

This phase of the community campaign began in the spring, when Rochester C.L.U.E. (Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice) launched a public petition in support of Justice For Hotel Workers.

The petition has more than 1,500 signatures so far, including members of local religious organizations and congregations, members of UNITE HERE and other unions, area politicians and concerned residents of the Rochester community.

Things got even hotter during the sixth annual Rochester International Jazz Festival, which ran from June 8-16. UNITE HERE was there in full strength. The week began with more than 500 members of CSEA turning out for a huge rally in front of the hotel. The rally featured remarks by CSEA leaders Danny Donohue and Flo Trippi, along with Rev. Roy Headman from Rochester C.L.U.E. and members of the UNITE HERE staff. CSEA members signed the C.L.U.E. petition, wore hotel union stickers, and put their tips for housekeepers in specially marked “solidarity envelopes.”

UNITE HERE members turned out in big numbers to distribute Justice For Hotel Workers postcards to the thousands of attendees at the festival. These postcards contained a simple message about economic justice and a link to the online petition at http://www.uhrrjb.org.

Our brothers and sisters from the Operating Engineers and other members of the Rochester Building Trades blew up the big rat balloon in front of the Crowne Plaza and spent the entire week passing out leaflets to customers, workers and passersby. The response was tremendous. Workers were blown away by the rally, the rat and the strong presence of members and community supporters.

The workers are now circulating their own public petition inside the hotel demanding a fair choice about unionization. New activists are stepping forward to join longtime members of the organizing committee. It’s an exciting time for the Crowne Plaza campaign.

TAKE ACTION!

If you’d like to help, there are two simple things you can do: (1) sign the online petition at http://www.uhrrjb.org, and (2) come to the petition presentation rally in front of the Crowne Plaza, 70 State Street, at 4:30 p.m. on July 19. Thanks for standing in solidarity with Rochester’s hotel workers!

—
Jason Crane
Organizing Director
UNITE HERE
Rochester Regional Joint Board
(585) 271-6728