2009-12-08 19:08:37 -

The Hotel Council of San Francisco is calling on Local 2 Unite Here to avoid strike activity this month which could result in the further loss of union member pay and work shifts during the holiday season.

With contract talks set to resume tomorrow, the Hotel Council is urging union leaders to focus their attention at the bargaining table rather than conduct another rolling strike.

“Rolling strikes tarnish San Francisco’s image as a whole,” said Hotel Council Executive Director Patricia Breslin. “The November rolling strikes have already resulted in at least 1800 lost shifts – jobs that otherwise could have been performed by Local 2 members. San Francisco hotels don’t want to see their valued employees further penalized.”


Three rolling strikes conducted

by Local 2 in November resulted in the loss of approximately 1800 employee shifts. “These numbers show the direct impact on Local 2 members from these strikes,” said Sam Singer, a spokesman for the Hotel Council. “They call into question the decision of union leaders who order strike actions during the holiday season when these disruptive actions discourage holiday visitors and shoppers.”


Employees returning to work say they are glad to be off the picket line and back to providing quality service to San Francisco visitors. Hotels are honoring the terms of an expired contract, which includes some of the highest wages in the nation for hotel employees and healthcare benefits for union members and their families.

Hotels involved in negotiations with Local 2 are seeking a sustainable healthcare plan that provides quality, affordable medical coverage to employees. In the past 10 years, healthcare costs for San Francisco hotels have risen 300 percent.

“There’s still time before the holidays to agree to a new contract that works for all parties involved,” said Ms. Breslin.

Singer AssociatesSam Singer or Charles Goodyear, 415-227-9700