In Massive Victory for Wharf InterContinental Workers, IHG Agrees to Fair Union Recognition Process

Workers at the InterContinental on The Wharf have won a fair pathway to a union contract, and the dignity, benefits, and power that it comes with  

Washington, D.C. – Following two weeks of picket lines, a boycott of non-union IHG (InterContinental Hotel Group) properties in the D.C. area, and months of intensive organizing, workers at the InterContinental on the Wharf are poised to win their union. In an agreement finalized today between IHG and UNITE HERE Local 25, IHG has agreed to an expedient, neutral process for union recognition and bargaining a first contract. 

Following the agreement, Local 25 has lifted the boycott of non-union IHG hotels in the D.C. area. Tomorrow’s election will no longer take place. Instead, recognition will be formally determined by a neutral arbitrator’s count of signed union authorization cards. The overwhelming majority of workers in the bargaining unit have already signed cards. IHG has agreed to recognize Local 25 as the representative of the workers once the arbitrator confirms that a majority of workers in the unit signed cards.  

“I am so proud of what we’ve won together,” said Wes Waterhouse, a server and bartender at the InterContinental Restaurant. “It’s been a fight to get here, but we have won exactly what we’ve demanded all along: a chance to make our hospitality jobs sustainable for our careers.” 

Workers at InterContinental on the Wharf and Moon Rabbit are organizing for respect from management, higher wages, better healthcare benefits, and more transparency around wages. Through their citywide contract, Local 25 members have won complete access to tipping and wage policies in their workplaces, 100% employer-funded family healthcare, some of the highest wages in the industry, and powerful protections on the job. 

“When hospitality workers stand up for their rights and organize together, we win,” said Paul Schwalb, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25. “Workers at the former Moon Rabbit restaurant and InterContinental on the Wharf are about to become the newest members of our union and are on a pathway to reaping the benefits of one of the strongest hotel workers’ contracts in the country.”  

“We applaud IHG for doing the right thing here,” Schwalb continued. “We appreciate their commitment to an expedited and fair bargaining process.” 

While Moon Rabbit is moving on, there will be another full-service restaurant at the hotel. Hours there have expanded since Moon Rabbit first closed, and some workers’ shifts are beginning to come back online. Once the union has been recognized, any new restaurant at the hotel will be unionized as well.  

“I walked the picket line with my kids and organized for a union because I want a better life for myself and my family,” said Petergay Abrahams, a server assisstant at the InterContinental restaurant. “Now I know I can go to work at a job that supports all of us.” 

“We’ll be able to go to work with our heads held high,” said Dennis Chambers, a banquet cook at the hotel. “We’ll work in a safe environment with the wages and benefits we deserve. And it’ll be because of our power, because we fought and won.” 

###

Statement on Moon Rabbit's Closure

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Monday, May 22nd 2023
Media Contact: Benjy Cannon, 202-714-1567, bcannon@local25now.org

Following Moon Rabbit’s Closure, Hotel Workers Call for Boycott of Non-Union InterContinental Hotel Group Properties in D.C.
  The abrupt closure of a renowned restaurant in the middle of a union election throws dozens of workers’ livelihoods into question.

Washington, DC – Today, management at the InterContinental on The Wharf informed workers that Moon Rabbit is closing and will be replaced by an alternative concept that will only serve breakfast. Following this announcement, which comes amidst a union organizing campaign at the hotel and Moon Rabbit, UNITE HERE Local 25 has called for a boycott of non-union hotels operated by the InterContinental Hotel Group (IHG), which operates the Intercontinental on The Wharf and Moon Rabbit, as well as the Willard InterContinental, the Kimpton Hotel George, and the Hotel Indigo Alexandria. The Union encourages customers to continue patronizing the restaurant at the InterContinental.

UNITE HERE Local 25 is a hospitality workers’ union that represents over 6,500 workers in Maryland, Virginia, and D.C. With the backing of a substantial majority of workers at the Intercontinental on the Wharf and Moon Rabbit, the Union filed for a petition for a Union election on May 1 – three weeks before the hotel decided to close Moon Rabbit, throwing the workers’ livelihoods into question. 83% of workers in the bargaining unit have signed union authorization cards.

“This move by the hotel is cynical and disgusting,” said Paul Schwalb, the Executive-Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25. “Closing Moon Rabbit on the eve of a union election shows a gross disregard for the people who helped turn Moon Rabbit into a national sensation. Nobody should do business with a hotel that treats workers as disposable.”

The InterContinental on The Wharf is owned by developers Hoffman & Associates, Madison Marquette and Carr Companies. The D.C. Council provided these companies with almost $300 million in subsidies to develop The Wharf, with the promise of job creation. The Federal Government spent nearly $1 million in room reservations at the InterContinental on The Wharf between 2019-2021.

Moon Rabbit is a critically acclaimed restaurant that Food & Wine recently named one of the top ten in the United States. Workers in the restaurant believe that it is a serious contender for a Michelin Star. Chef Kevin Tien is also a 2023 Chef of the Year RAMMY Finalist. Chef Tien is leaving the InterContinental on The Wharf along with Moon Rabbit. 

“It’s devastating,” said Michael Cruz, a server at Moon Rabbit. “I’ve been organizing the union at Moon Rabbit because I wanted stability, and I wanted to spend my career working here with Chef Kevin. For management to spit that back in our faces is a real betrayal of our work and the incredible restaurant we’ve built.”

“I don’t want anyone staying at this hotel,” said Dennis Chambers, a Banquet Cook at the InterContinental. “Management has crossed a line here, just because we wanted something better for ourselves and our families.”

“This is a decision point in D.C. for anyone who claims to care about workers’ rights and social justice,” Schwalb continued. “Do you stand with a majority Black and Brown workforce fighting for their rights? Or will you reward multimillion dollar developers and one of the largest hotel operators in the world for telling workers to pound sand? Do the right thing and do not stay at InterContinental hotels in the District.”

###

Local 25 Leaders Meet and Rally for Daily Room Cleaning!

Last week, nearly 200 Local 25 leaders gathered to plan for the years ahead and kick-off our fight for permanent daily-room cleaning legislation! The legislation, which Local 25 advocated for last year, requires hotels to clean occupied rooms every day, unless the guest opts out. This law ensures housekeepers get hours, that their jobs are manageable, and that our industry standards stay strong as tourists come back.

Just a few days after our rally, the Council passed a 225 day-extension of the law! Now, we’re preparing to advocate for a long-term solution that protects our jobs, our bodies, and the industry as a whole.

For more details. check out these photos from the rally, as well as some news coverage on Telemundo and in the Washington Business Journal!

Link to the Telemundo story (Empleados de limpieza de hoteles piden a concejales que protejan sus trabajos)

Washington Business Journal article (D.C. Council poised to extend law that requires daily hotel room cleanings)

Hospitality Workers Endorse Matt de Ferranti for Arlington County Board

Arlington, VA – As Arlington County workers bounce back from the COVID-19 pandemic and navigate the effects of Amazon HQ2, UNITE HERE Locals 23 and 25 are rallying behind Matt de Ferranti for County Board. Collectively, these unions represent over 8,000 workers in Virginia, many of whom live and work in Arlington.  

“Through our conversations with Mr. de Ferranti and following a thorough review of his record, it’s clear that he’s the champion hospitality workers need on the Arlington County Board,” said Sam Epps, Political Director of UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents hotel, restaurant, and casino workers. “With massive hotel development coming to the County in the wake of Amazon HQ2, we know we can count on Mr. de Ferranti to fight for good jobs for Arlington workers.” 

“We are very impressed with Mr. de Ferranti’s deep commitment to equity and affordability,” said Bert Bayou, Vice President of UNITE HERE Local 23, which represents airport, stadium, and parking garage workers. “We know he will stand with the tenants and immigrants who make up our membership as they strive to continue living and working in Arlington while costs of living skyrocket.” 

Three Unions Endorse Mayor Bowser on Behalf of 34,000 Service Sector Workers

Washington, D.C. – As District workers begin a long road to recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, 32BJ SEIU, UNITE HERE Local 23 and UNITE HERE Local 25 today announced their endorsement of Mayor Muriel Bowser on behalf of over 34,000 hotel, food, retail and property services workers who live and work in D.C. The groups cited her strong stewardship and commitment to helping working class families weather periods of historical prosperity, hardship and the COVID-19 pandemic.

“When essential janitors and security officers were facing the prospect of massive layoffs at the start of the pandemic, Mayor Bowser stepped up on their behalf to help protect their livelihoods,” said Jaime Contreras, Executive Vice President of 32BJ which represents over 20,000 property services workers in the D.C. area among 175,000 nationwide. “The men and women who keep our airports clean and running smooth are also grateful for her support of their long-fought but successful fight for livable wages.”

“We are deeply grateful for the support Mayor Bowser has shown hospitality workers and the industry they work in during her two terms in office,” said John Boardman, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25, which represents hotel, restaurant, and casino workers. “From issuing strong regulations requiring automatic daily room cleaning to championing a fair process for organizing in District-financed hotels, Mayor Bowser has time and again demonstrated her commitment to hotel and restaurant workers and their families. We are proud to support her re-election.”

“We truly appreciate the support Mayor Bowser has shown to workers, tenants, and immigrants as they struggled through the pandemic,” said Bert Bayou, Vice President of UNITE HERE Local 23, which represents 7,500 airport, stadium, food service and parking garage workers in the D.C. area. “In particular, the support Mayor Bowser has shown food service workers at the airport make her our clear choice for Mayor of D.C.”

Hotel Workers’ Union Welcomes Passage of Hotel Notice and Daily Room Cleaning Legislation

Washington, DC – UNITE HERE Local 25, the Union representing over 7,200 hospitality workers in the Washington region, welcomed the passage of the Hotel Enhanced Cleaning and Notice of Service Disruption Emergency Amendment Act of 2022. This bill provides the pathway for regulations requiring hotels to service rooms daily unless guests opt-out and notice to guests, prior to arrival, of service disruptions at a booked hotel. 

“This legislation will ensure that the District's high standards of cleanliness and hospitality remain in place coming out of the pandemic,” Said Sam Epps, Local 25’s Political Director. “Visitors returning to DC should feel confident that hotels are still offering the same amenities that made our hospitality industry such a force. We are very grateful for Councilmember Allen, Chairman Mendelson, and Mayor Bowser’s leadership on this important issue.” 

“From cleanliness protocols in restaurants to the look and interior of taxicabs, the District has long taken an interest in regulating our industries to ensure high standards,” Epps continued. “These regulations on both notice and cleaning are good for consumers and good for hotel workers."

“We believe that daily room cleaning is one of the things that makes hotels worthwhile places to stay,” Epps continued. “If we want a competitive hotel market, we have to ensure that visitors know what they’re paying for and get what they pay for –  and that means a standard of cleanliness that includes daily housekeeping, and ensuring transparency for guests about anticipated disruptions in service or amenities during their stay.”  

Hotel and Casino Workers’ Union Supports Delaying Richmond Casino Referendum

Richmond, VA – UNITE HERE Local 25 Political Director Sam Epps issued the following statement in support of the Virginia Senate budget amendment establishing a Joint Legislative Audit and Review Commission of a Petersburg casino option and preventing another referendum in Richmond before November 2023:

“With skyrocketing costs of living and our recovery from the pandemic well underway, casino workers in Virginia need jobs that pay good wages and benefits. Unfortunately, we are concerned that Urban One, the current developer for the proposed Richmond Casino, is going to create low wage jobs with poor benefits. That is why we strongly support further studying the state and local revenue impacts, so that we can ensure that any new casino creates equitable economic development and high-quality jobs.”

“Our industry is diverse. We are predominantly immigrants, women, and people of color – the workers disproportionately affected by income inequality and bad jobs. Workers need to understand how they will benefit from new casino development before it moves forward.” 

“While we are grateful to City and Mayor of Richmond for their shared commitment to creating good jobs, we are concerned that Urban One may not share their goals. We urge the House of Delegates to concur with the Senate’s budget amendment for further study of new gaming development. Whether this casino is built in Richmond or Petersburg, it should be built in a way that benefits the community and the Commonwealth, not simply enriches a developer.”

Colonial Williamsburg Workers Unanimously Vote to Ratify New Union Contract with Significant Raises and Benefits

Williamsburg, VA – Following months of negotiations, workers at Colonial Williamsburg voted unanimously today to ratify their new contract. The contract is a near-complete re-write of the previous one, affecting almost every aspect of the work UNITE HERE Local 25 members preform at Colonial Williamsburg’s hotels and restaurants.  

The contract language, which the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation and Union negotiators agreed to on Tuesday afternoon, is a direct result of Union members’ tireless organizing and persistence over the past several months. Over the course of the campaign, Local 25 members had countless conversations with co-workers, organized petitions, delegations, rallies, picket lines, leafletted outside their places of work, and called for a boycott of the properties where they had a labor dispute.  

Workers stood up for the rights and respect they deserve, and they won. Following today’s ratification, the Union has lifted its boycott of the properties where it had a labor dispute.  

“We have said throughout this campaign that teaching history should not mean re-living it at work,” said John Boardman, Executive-Secretary Treasurer of UNITE HERE Local 25. “Now, our members can take pride in the fact that they have won 21st Century working conditions at Colonial Williamsburg.”  

Major changes to the contract include:  

• Substantial wage increases over the life of the four-year contract. The minimum Non-Tipped Rate will go from $12.50 an hour to $15.50 this month, to $18.50 by 2025 -- a 48.5% wage increase in total 

• Tipped workers will receive a $500 ratification bonus and non-tipped will receive $1,000 in their next paycheck. This comes in addition to a $1,000 holiday bonus that all Union members at Colonial Williamsburg received in the midst of contract negotiations 

• Dramatic changes to mandatory overtime policies, including an end to mandatory extra rooms for housekeepers, time-and-a half pay for workers when they do not receive two consecutive days off, and a new system for assigning overtime based on a volunteer rotation 

• A guaranteed 8-hour day for Non-Tipped workers & 6-hour day for Tipped workers with requirements to pay for a full shift if cancelled with less than 24 hours’ notice 

• Short and long-term disability protections so that members do not have to choose between paying their bills and taking the time necessary to recover after an illness or injury 

• Tipped workers will now receive double their hourly rate, capped at the Non-Tipped Minimum, for all sick, vacation & Short and Long-Term Disability calculations 

• Healthcare benefits will be fully preserved and premiums will not increase one cent over the life of the contract 

• Pension rights are fully preserved even if the property is sold  

• New, more effective grievance and arbitration procedures which will protect members' rights under the contract 

Boardman continued: “By the end of the negotiations, the overwhelming majority of our members’ demands had prevailed. That is a testament to the power of fighting together for wages that can pay our bills, for the right to have a life outside of work, and for the dignity that every worker deserves.”  

Following Disappointing Governor’s Election Results, Local Hospitality Workers Vow to Keep Organizing in Virginia

Arlington, VA.—Following Virginia's elections, a disappointing night for Democrats at the ballot box has re-doubled the Union’s commitment to fighting for Virginia workers.  

“We knocked doors in Virginia because we’re dedicated to organizing and the idea that one job should be enough for every worker,” said UNITE HERE Local 25 Political Director Sam Epps. “Now the fight moves from doors onto the shop floor.” 

While Democrats fell short overall, they won every down-ballot contest in Northern Virginia where UNITE HERE canvassed. 

“Last night’s results don’t change the fact that every hospitality worker in the Commonwealth deserves fair wages, strong benefits, and dignity and respect in their workplaces,” said UNITE HERE Local 23 Vice President Bert Bayou. “I couldn’t be prouder of our members and what we have built together.” 

“We are not going anywhere,” said Heidi Hernández, a Dale City resident and UNITE HERE Local 23 member. “I have no doubt that Virginia will face real challenges in the coming years, but union members will be on the front lines of protecting our rights, as we always are.” 

 “I was out there knocking doors because I'm committed to higher wages, benefits, affordable housing, healthcare, and childcare for people in this state,” said Dipak Khanal, a Falls Church resident and member of UNITE HERE Local 25. “Our path to getting what we deserve is still through organizing, and I'm even more committed to that after today.” 

Hotel Workers Union calls for Closures Ahead of Inauguration

Washington, DC -- UNITE HERE Local 25, the Union representing 7,200 hotel workers in the DC area, today called on the hotels in the Metro area to close, unless they are hosting security personnel. Local 25 also called for any hotel hosting security personnel to permit their staff to opt-out of reporting to work, and allow them to leave at any time if they feel unsafe.

John Boardman, Executive Secretary-Treasurer of Local 25, said in a statement:

“Last week, we watched in horror as insurrectionists terrorized the District, putting our members, as well as the broader public, at risk of violence and exposure to COVID-19. Our Union took decisive action to protect our members, and called on our hotels to evacuate. But the threat has not dissipated, as we continue to hear reports of armed, far-right militias planning to threaten Washington in the days ahead.”

“Given the danger and fluidity of this situation, the best way to guarantee the safety of hotel workers and District residents is to keep these groups out of the city and out of its hotels. That is why, unless hotels in the immediate Metro Area are hosting the National Guard or other security personnel, they should close immediately.”

“No worker, Union or non-Union, should have to risk their life to go into work. Unfortunately, that is the situation we are now faced with. When workers are safe, the public is safe. That is why we urge every hotel in the region to do their part in protecting us all.”

Testimony by John Boardman, Local 25's Executive Secretary-Treasurer before the Committee on Labor and Workforce Development

Good morning Councilmember Silverman, members of the committee, and thank you for holding this hearing. My name is John Boardman, and I am the head of UNITE HERE Local 25. I’m here representing 7,200 hospitality workers in the DC region. The first and most important thing for you to know is that about 98% of our membership is currently laid off. Many of our members are in dire, frightening financial circumstances because of the economic fallout from COVID-19. Working people in this city are hurting, scared, and struggling. We need a budget that, that first and foremost, meets their basic needs.

The Mayor’s budget, in many respects, is helpful. It by and large avoided cuts to major programs on which our members rely, and overall was less austere than we feared. But this is a time when working people in this city are under indescribable pressure. There are a few areas, over which this committee has oversight, where this budget could go farther in easing it.

The first relates to the DOES hiring freeze. While prior to the pandemic, many of our members had jobs that paid middle-class wages and guaranteed them healthcare, most of them increasingly rely on government services like Unemployment Insurance (UI). The individuals we have been in conversation with over at UI have been doing incredible work to make sure our members, and countless others, get paid. But it’s no secret that our UI system as a whole is already struggling to cope with the huge volumes of weekly claims coming in, not to mention longstanding issues with language access.

This budget should make their jobs easier, not harder. We’re concerned that a hiring freeze that affects critical programs like UI, or, for that matter, any personnel who handle healthcare initiatives, will impede the city’s ability to deliver critical services to those who need them. While some observers have noted that this budget makes few cuts to services themselves, we know firsthand that services only exist by the grace of the people who staff them. Those workers deserve support, and may not be able to keep up with demand given their current staffing levels.

On that topic, one of the most challenging components of the proposed budget was the freeze on cost-of-living raises for public sector workers. Without getting into the weeds, I think it’s important to note that these workers – the majority of whom are women of color -- are literally saving lives every day, and deserve to have a voice in their future. The city should not impose unilateral cuts on their pay or benefits; these issues must be resolved in the context of negotiations, which did not appear to have taken place when the budget was released.

I want to end by thanking the committee, the staff over at DOES, and many of my fellow panelists for the tremendous efforts you are exerting to keep District residents safe and afloat. Your work is invaluable. Thank you and I am happy to answer any questions.

Raise the Wage VA

A coalition of Virginia groups have formed the raise the wage coalition Virginia in support of House Bill 395. The bill proposes to increase the minimum wage from $7 to $15 by the year 2023. According to deputy political director at Unite Here local 25, Lenace Edwards, “this bill is stronger than previous proposals because it has a faster time frame and avoids regionalism , to help all low-wage workers in the state at the same time.” “Folks have talked about bringing certain districts or areas, phasing them in at a different time, right?” “ That’s unacceptable and would set a dangerous precedent.” Members of Raise the Wage coalition say that workers have not received the same economic boom as businesses, who rank highly in the state.

Read More

The Washington Post: Housing advocates push for more aggressive rent-control measures in D.C.

In Sept, D.C. council signed off to extend the 1985 rent control law until Dec. 2030, which allows annual rent increases by landlords. Fearing a higher rate of gentrification in the city, a coalition of 17 groups, unveiled "The Reclaim Rent Control" campaign.  This campaign, seeks to expand rent control laws in four ways listed below: 

● Cap annual rent increases at the rate of inflation by eliminating the extra 2 percent allowed under the current law.

 ● Make small, four-unit apartment buildings and all buildings built before 2005 subject to rent control.

● Make new units subject to rent control after 15 years.

● Cut the minimum number of properties landlords must own before they are subject to rent-control provisions and eliminate what are known as “vacancy increases,” which allow landlords to increase the rent of a unit when it is vacated by the previous tenant. 

According to a National Community Reinvestment Coalition, out of any other city in the country, D.C. had the greatest "Intensity of Gentrification". To be exact, between 2000 and 2013, 40% of the District's lower-income neighborhoods experienced gentrification.  Further research found that over 20,000 African Americans were displaced during that time from their neighborhoods by affluent, White outsiders. Unite Here Local 25 representative, Benjy Cannon, states “Our members live in D.C., and even with the strong wages and benefits we’ve been able to secure for them, staying in the city is still really, really difficult and really, really expensive,” “It’s so important to have a diverse cross-section of groups pushing for this because issues of inequality, racism, housing, poverty, employment — they’re all interconnected.”

Read More

The Daily Beast: Is this Embattled D.C. Hotel Sleazier than Trump's?

Last spring, two real estate developers named Matt Wexler and Brian Friedman barreled into a local community meeting in the Adams Morgan neighborhood of Washington, D.C., for a board called the Business Improvement District. The two had just opened a new hotel in the area, and they wanted more cops on the street. Furious that the board had not complied, Wexler read a four-page letter, demanding the leaders’ resignation over what he called “unethical,” “blatantly outlandish,” and “disgusting hypocrisy,” according to a report in Current Newspapers. The performance left the room in shock. “To come in and run roughshod over everyone because of your size—that’s not right,” BID Vice President Arianne Bennett, who runs a local falafel shop, told the outlet at the time. “I got bullied by my own personal Adams Morgan Donald Trump.”

Read more