We understand that the NCDA is planning to host the upcoming (April) 2011 Workforce Development Conference at the Westin St. Francis Hotel in San Francisco. We also understand that the NCDA is aware of the ongoing labor dispute and worker-called boycott at this hotel. While we are hopeful that the NCDA will relocate the event to another location in San Francisco, We are concerned about the response that we received by Convention Manager, Bobbi Carter. This morning I personally called her to discuss the situation and not only would she NOT speak with me about the situation, but she actually hung up on me. On the phone she did briefly mention that the Board of Directors would ultimately decide how to proceed, which is why I am writing you today.

I am hopeful that I can speak with you or another representative of the Board to discuss this issue in more detail, my contact information is at the bottom of this email. I have also included more information about the labor dispute below.

Since the union contract at the Westin St. Francis expired in August of 2009, workers have been engaged in a protracted struggle to maintain the standards that they have fought for and protected for over 20 years. In negotiations, the management company of the Westin St. Francis, the Starwood Corporation, has only made proposals that would force workers into making unprecedented concessions, including major cuts in healthcare and retirement benefits. Workers simply cannot afford to make these kinds of concessions, especially when Starwood profits continue to rise; in the second quarter of 2010 alone, Starwood earned $114 million in net profit, and its revenue rose 10.5% to $1.29 billion.

Unfortunately, negotiations continue to be unsuccessful and until the Starwood Corporation is willing to give their workers the respect and the dignity that they deserve, workers will continue standing together to defend their livelihoods. In November of 2009, these workers engaged in a short-term strike and launched an ongoing boycott of their hotel. Currently, the hotel is subject to ongoing rallies, protests and picket lines as part of the workers’ ongoing effort to inform the public to boycott the hotel until the labor dispute has been resolved. In the future, more strikes and work stoppages at the hotel are a strong possibility.

For more information about hotel labor disputes in San Francisco, you can visit our website at www.unitehere2.org.

Thank You,

Mark Westerberg

P: x748

Fax:

www.unitehere2.org

www.hotelworkersrising.org