Wake Up Call: Madison Hotel Workers Out on Strike

by Taylor Leake · 2011-02-09 05:59:00 UTC
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The Madison Hotel is one of those iconic Washington DC spots. Just a few blocks from the White House, it hosts frequent events and conferences, especially for unions, because for decades, the Madison treated its workers well. They always honored their long standing contract with Unite Here local 25, the union that represents 150 workers at the Madison.

But all that changed abruptly when Jamestown Properties purchased the hotel (for a cool $123 million) and brought on property management company Destination Hotels and Resorts.

For the workers, it hasn't been a smooth transition. The new owners introduced themselves to the workers by forcing them to reapply for their jobs. Many of the workers at the Madison have held these jobs for years and were none too happy with the prospect of being unemployed for no good reason.

While applying for your own job is bad enough, the new owners followed this up by announcing that they would no longer honor the longstanding labor contract the hotel has had with its workers. This contract determines wages, benefits, acceptable treatment and more.

Understandably upset by such changes, the workers at the Madison have gone on strike. They are promising to fight for their contract, and say they'll stay on strike as long as it takes.

Jorge Fernandez has worked at Palette, the Madison's popular restaurant, for 7 years. His experience with the new owners exemplifies how tough the transition has been on workers:

“We showed up at work last week and the restaurant was closed,” he explained. "They said we could apply for other positions at the hotel but jobs are scarce right now. I have a family, kids in school to support; we had no warning that we’d lose our jobs."

That is no way to treat your workers. They deserve dignity and respect, and an employer who honors the labor agreement they have come to expect.

Please sign our petition and write to Chrostoph Kahl, Jamestown Properties' Principal Managing Director, to demand that he honor the contract with his workers and give them the respect they deserve.

Photo Credit: AFL-CIO

Taylor Leake has advocated for workers' rights for years, from running his college chapter of United Students Against Sweatshops to working for the Wake Up Walmart campaign.

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