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The reasons that seem to be most given by the AHA leadership to continue at the Manchester Hyatt seem to be that there is no formal labor dispute there and that the penalties for backing out will be massive. In corresponding with Powell DeGange at UNITE-HERE I have looked for some guidance about how the union would answer these points. DeGange's response, shared with permission, is below There have been groups that have relocated and > honored the Manchester Grand Hyatt boycott without > incurring large cancellation fees. It is unfair > for the hotel to hold organizations hostage by these > fees and force groups to hold event at a hotel that > many of its members would feel uncomfortable > patronizing. The hotel has never told the AHA > about the dispute it was walking into until AHA > members began to find out and tried to pass a > resolution last January to prevent the AHA from > violating the boycott. > > Furthermore, Arnita Jones published a document > titled, "Policy Issues." In the 5th paragraph it > states: > Hotels are further required to warrant that they > have no unfair labor practice charges or > complaints pending, and have not been the object > of a strike or threat of labor action at any > time in the past 10 years. In addition, hotels > must notify the AHA within 30 days of any > changes in their labor status, including > threatened walkouts, strikes, picketing, work > stoppage, or other similar occurrences. > > The housekeepers began picketing the Manchester > Hyatt in 2006 for the dramatic increase in > workloads. In 2008 the boycott was launched by the > San Diego Labor Council, CA State AFL CIO and UNITE > HERE Local 30. This is a labor dispute despite the > hotel's and AHA's attempt to deny the labor issues. DeGange also appended the attached file with model contract language for booking conventions. In part I was curious on this point since it seemed counterintuitive that cancelling realtors' and (especially) trial lawyers' groups did not try aggressively to limit penalties incurred when they expressed solidarity with workers and GLBT freedom fighters. peace, dave roediger
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