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Opposing council members did not express any issue with the proposed structure itself, but rather room conditions in the existing building, employee pay and the hotel owner’s failure to sign a neutrality agreement acknowledging the workers’ rights to form a union.
Meanwhile, hotel representatives say they’re frustrated but plan to keep fighting to build the 28-story, 500-bed tower at the corner of Washington and Jefferson in the downtown.
“I support employment. I support good customer service…” said Council President Brenda Jones prior to the 2-6 vote. “But what I do not support is problems within a hotel where I receive calls from out-of-state visitors that are here who feel that the hotel is a convention hotel, and that they experience a lot of problems … the rooms inside the hotel. Not with the employment, not with the customer service."
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In 2015, 80 workers rejected forming a union while 15 were in favor, Sabbagh said. He said the hotel’s ownership group is not opposed to unions, and the hotel does have one, Local 324, International Union of Operating Engineers, which represents eight maintenance workers. The hotel just signed a renegotiated contract for three years.“They chose to be represented, and we support them 100 percent,” he said. “We support our current staff now.”
Another issue raised Tuesday was the average worker pay at the hotel. Sabbagh said that pay varies based on position with the average being $14 an hour. The City Council has expressed its support for a $15-an-hour minimum for city workers.
Ayers said the issue for her is not about unionizing workers. Ayers is a former hospitality worker who has been a bartender, waited and bussed tables and washed dishes.
"What I want is to make sure that the standard that has been created here is one that whether or not you have a union card, you get to participate in having an environment that nurtures those beliefs that there should be a standard," she said.