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For Immediate Release
August 18, 2004
Leonard O’Neill, (831) 375-2246
(831) 595-2499

Across From The Big Fair, "No Fair"; Say Hotel Workers

According to housekeeper Juana Enriquez, it is not far from the “Fairest Fair of All” to a worker’s worst nightmare. It’s across the street. Ms. Enriquez works at the Monterey Bay Travelodge--just a few steps across Fairground Road from the annual Monterey County Fair--where she fears she and her family will soon be losing their health insurance. “The owner told us there would be no more health insurance. How will I pay for the doctor when my kids get sick? With my $8.84 [hourly] wages? This is so terrible. It is not fair.”

The hotel’s owner, Kilsoo Seo, issued a “final” contract offer to the Travelodge workers calling for the hotel’s elimination of health insurance benefits, pension contributions, and paid bereavement leave; reductions in holidays and paid jury duty days; the unpaid extension of the workday by one-half hour (unpaid lunch break); and a wage freeze at $8.84 per hour.

Dozens of hotel workers from UNITE HERE Local 483 will rally in support of the Monterey Travelodge Fairgrounds employees today, Wednesday, August 18, from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. in front of the hotel at 2030 North Fremont in Monterey. The workers will be joined by community supporters. This protest rally follows the first demonstration of 70 people on July 29, a community delegation to the hotel general manager on August 5, and a 100-person rally on August 11.

Leonard O’Neill, UNITE HERE Local 483 Secretary-Treasurer, says that contract negotiations with Mr. Seo have been a huge step backwards, “Over 20 years ago, housekeepers at this hotel organized a union because they had no health coverage, no pension, no rights. We are not going to go back 20 years.”

Media Visuals: Marchers with colorful picket signs and slogans by large “Travelodge” sign, hotel workers in uniform, children, large union banner, speakers toward end of rally.

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