Congress Hotel Workers Vote to Strike.Business Editors CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 29, 2003 In the face of wage and benefit cuts, workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel The Plaza Hotel in New York City is a landmark 19-story luxury hotel with a height of 250 feet (76 m) and length of 400 feet that (122 m) occupies the west side of Grand Army Plaza, from which it derives its name, and extends along Central Park South in Manhattan. voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike today. The vote was 113 to 1. The contract expired on December 31, 2002, and a strike deadline will be set for sometime in June. Until last September, the historic Congress Hotel had always paid wages and benefits in line with other prominent Chicago hotels. However, the Congress Hotel owners chose not to participate in last summer's citywide hotel negotiations. In those negotiations, nearly 7,000 workers in 28 Chicago hotels won a big raise, narrowly avoiding a strike when Governor Ryan stepped in to mediate MEDIATE, POWERS. Those incident to primary powers, given by a principal to his agent. For example, the general authority given to collect, receive and pay debts due by or to the principal is a primary power. . Instead of offering to raise wages that already were among the lowest in the nation, after six months of bargaining, the New York-based owners of the Congress unilaterally implemented cutbacks. As of May 14, the Congress cut workers' wages by 7%, and have effectively eliminated healthcare and pension contributions. A housekeeper HOUSEKEEPER. One who occupies a house. 2. A person who occupies every room in the house, under a lease, except one, which is reserved for his landlord, who pays all the taxes, is not a housekeeper. 1 Chit. Rep. 502. at the Congress now makes only $8.21 an hour, while most unionized housekeepers in Chicago earn $10.00. "These cuts are a slap in the face. Management is giving us no choice but to strike," said Sharon Williams, a telephone operator at the Congress. "It's unfair. They're working us harder for less pay," added Tina Lee, a cashier CASHIER. An officer of a moneyed institution, who is entitled by virtue of his office to take care of the cash or money of such institution. 2. The cashier of a bank is usually entrusted with all the funds of the bank, its notes, bills, and other choses in . "We can't live on what they're offering. We have to fight for something better." "The company says they aren't making enough money to offer raises," said Mario Moreno, a laundry attendant. "We think they're lying. If all the other hotels can do it, so can they." The Congress Hotel is owned by a limited partnership controlled by businessman Albert Nasser, who maintains residences in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of and Switzerland. Nasser, who does not appear to own any other hotels, is Chairman and CEO (1) (Chief Executive Officer) The highest individual in command of an organization. Typically the president of the company, the CEO reports to the Chairman of the Board. of Gelmart Industries, Inc., which manufacturers garments in the Philippines. "This will be the first strike at a Chicago hotel in anyone's memory, and it's a shame that the Congress apparently thinks so little of Chicago. The Congress Hotel has shown itself to be a renegade employer, and their actions will give a black eye to the city's image as a hospitality destination," said HERE Local 1 President Henry Tamarin tamarin: see marmoset. tamarin Any of about 25 species of long-tusked marmosets in the genera Leontopithecus (or Leontideus, according to some authorities) and Saguinus. Tamarins are 8–12 in. . |
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