Jewish Journal: 30 Years After conference targeted during hotel labor dispute

[Omaha Steve]

http://www.jewishjournal.com/community/article/30_years_after_conference_targeted_during_hotel_labor_dispute_20101008/

By Karmel Melamed

The Los Angeles-based Iranian Jewish political and civic action group 30 Years After will host its second biennial conference at the Hyatt Century Plaza Hotel on Sunday, Oct. 10, in the middle of a bitter labor dispute between the Hyatt and the hotel’s worker union “Unite Here - Local 11”.

In advance of the event, the Los Angeles-based Jewish Labor Committee (JLC) Western Region announced that they will join Unite Here in picketing the Hyatt Century plaza while the event is going on inside.

A statement from 30YA released to The Journal said 30YA had made every effort to relocate the conference after learning of the union boycott, but Hyatt had refused to release the group from their contract, saying if they cancelled, the hotel would enforce a liquid damages provision in their contract of $53,000, including a $15,000 deposit already paid by 30YA. The group contracted to hold the event at the Hyatt a year ago, before labor negotiations with the hotel began to go sour.

According to Unite Here, Hyatt workers have been without a contract since November 2009, and their contract negotiations with Hyatt have been moving slowly. On Sept. 15, union workers launched boycotts of several local hotels, including the Andaz West Hollywood, Hyatt Century Plaza, and Hyatt Long Beach, picketing the hotels and asking customers not to patronize.

On Wednesday, Oct. 6, Unite Here sent an e-mail to 30YA’s sponsors, speakers and attendees, asking them to pull out from participating in the event after 30YA refused to move the conference venue.

“Unfortunately, when presented with the opportunity to take a courageous step in support of Hyatt workers and hold the conference at a venue not under dispute (such a venue was available), the leadership of 30 Years After made a conscious decision to not to respect the worker-called boycott by continuing to hold the event at the Hyatt Century Plaza,” Unite Here’s e-mail said.

FULL story at link.