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For Immediate Release
August 17, 2005
Leonard O'Neill, (831) 375-2246

Anniversary Protest at Monterey Bay Travelodge
Hotel Settles Third Federal Charge by Union

Monterey. Dozens of hotel workers and community allies will commemorate one year of public protests against a local hotel owner today. Organized by UNITE HERE Local 483, the demonstration will protest the actions of the Monterey Bay Travelodge owner, Kilsoo Seo, who has eliminated the health insurance and pension plans of his 13 Latino employees, while freezing their hourly wages at $8.84. The union organized the first demonstration at Seo’s 104-room hotel back on July 29, 2004. Over 2,000 people have participated in these weekly picket-lines in front of the hotel.

The protest comes one week after the union received news from the federal government that the Monterey Bay Travelodge had settled a third Local 483 charge filed with the National Labor Relations Board. Although the Travelodge refused to admit that it violated the law, the settlement requires it to refrain from photographing employees engaging in lawful Union activities in the future, and to post the federal notice in the workplace for two months assuring workers of their rights.

The One Year of Protest Rally will be held Wednesday, August 17, from 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m. in front of the Travelodge at 2030 North Fremont Street in Monterey. The Travelodge workers will join the rally at 12:30 during their lunch break. Speeches by workers, Local 483 staff, and local supporters will begin at 12:45.

Juana Enriquez, Travelodge housekeeper and recent recipient of the 27th Assembly District Woman of the Year award, said, “One year later, we are still fighting for justice at the [Monterey Bay] Travelodge. We won’t quit. We are so grateful for the wonderful support we have received, especially from thousands of people in the Monterey area who have marched with us on our picket-line.”

Without a contract for more than 19 months now, the employees were hit especially hard last fall when Mr. Seo implemented his demands to eliminate employee and family health insurance entirely, leaving the workers and their 19 children without health care coverage. Hotel employees at the Monterey Bay Travelodge have been members of UNITE HERE Local 483 for over 20 years and, until Seo’s actions, had health insurance and pension plans. They first called for a boycott of the hotel in November 2004.

Media Visuals: Marchers with colorful picket signs and slogans by large “Travelodge” sign, hotel workers in uniform, large union banner

For more written information please see the website www.BoycottMontereyBayTravelodge.info.

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