Hotel Strikes - Cross the Pickets?
 

With strikes looking at San Francisco, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., hotels, I wonder how many people will cross a picket line to stay a hotel? Should we care about striking employees?

I cannot make an informed decision unless I know the facts and both sides of the story.

I wouldn't cross for the simple reason that service is bound to be effected. I don't need the hassle of a dirty room or my personal pet peeve, cleaning that gets done late in the afternoon after I've returned when I've been gone most of the day.

They will continue negotiation on Friday. And even if there will be a strike it will only affect 14 hotels. 14 out of how many??

"Should we care about striking employees?"

Care about their crappy work conditions, or

Care about what retribution may occur?

I'd say the former is most important. While I am satisfied with my current work conditions, I always support others in their quest to improve theirs. I've worked for employers who treated the help unfairly, disrespectfully, and/or poorly compensated. I would never cross a picket line. A strike is the only way the group has to get the owners' attention.

Now if you mean should we care because of possible retribution ... well, remember that it's never the union's own policy to hurt guests -- after all, they want you to return afterwards, but in any group of people you find a few hot-heads. But hey- what's a $20 drycleaning bill for getting egged when you saved $50 on your lodging, right?

I went to Las Vegas once, unbeknownst to me, in the middle of a huge union demonstration by hotel and hospitality employees. They were marching up and down the main drag and it was almost imposssible to not cross their lines. They didn't seem to care as it was more of a peaceful demonstration. They seemed to be trying mostly to draw attention to their cause and weren't picketing a particular hotel.

I would have a difficult time crossing a picket line at a hotel. Most hotel employees are earning very low pay to make our lives more comfortable. I feel guilty enough as it is. I should be willing to pay more for the luxuries of life in order to promote a more equitable society and yet I always search to get the best deal.

I would not cross a picket but then I speak from the luxury of someone who does not have any upcoming hotel stays planned. That being said, I would hate to cross a picket line and don't do it.

I think in this case that some people will cross a potential picket line not because they do not care about the employees or their plight but rather many people have special vacations that they have saved money for that would be heartbreaking to cancel. For example, I do not shop at WalMart and have never even been inside one due to the working condtions, however not everyone has this luxury. I can pay the extra money to shop at Mom and Pop stores, many people do not. I do not think it is an indication of diconcern or ignorance.

In San Francisco we have already had some smaller conventions move to San Jose. I am interested to see what will happen when Peoplesoft (20K +) come into town next week.

Where is that San Jose "guy" when we need him :)

FainaAgain: I can't believe you said that! Let's not wake him up.

Well, my husband's conference in S.F. was cancelled due to this strike and I was going along for a vacation...and last week his conference that was in New Orleans was also cancelled due to Hurricane Ivan...and I was also going along. So I am really bummed out...Just found out today that S.F.was cancelled. My husband is with a labor union and his conference was suppose to be at the Hilton. I understand why they can't hold it there,but I still am upset. We are looking into still going and staying in another hotel or doing something different...By the way, does anyone know which hotels are on strike??

None yet...

There are certain hotels, like the Madison in Washington, DC, that strike all of the time. I had no trouble crossing that picket line because the employees there were pretty unreasonable. But if there is a limited or no history of strikes at a hotel, then I wouldn't cross.

I'm upset also that the Laborers' conference was cancelled. We too understand that it had to be cancelled. We are still planning on going to SF. JulieR check out the San Francisco newspapers on line to read what hotels that are striking. I believe it's the Hilton, Marriott and one other chain.

In the news this morning - some hotels are no strike, but they are opened (restaurants IN the hotels only may be closed) with a limited maid servise till they bring employees from other cities. So don't worry, come to visit!

I'm staying in two different Hyatts in DC at the end of October for my bday - we used priceline so we already paid - is this something I need to be worried about? I was really looking forward to this trip!

Faina - please use the correct terminology ..

It's <b><i>S C A B S</i></b> that they'll be bringing in, not &quot;other employees&quot;. No good sobs who help the employer stab the back of one group of workers who eventually find their own jobs on the line.

I'd worry about it when you get there and then only if a strike is on. Assuming that the &quot;workers&quot; are totally justified and that &quot;management&quot; is always bad speaks volumes about the reasoning power of an indivdiual in such a situation. These people are probably the same ones who DON'T ever tip a maid, too.