Workers and community hold “Gala for the 99%” at site of Walmart & Hyatt Board members’ high-society fundraiser

April 19, 2012

Today, Bay Area Walmart and Hyatt workers will come together to demand that Greg and Carrie Penner address the injustice and abuse they face in the workplace.   The Penners are members of the Walton family – the richest family in the US and owners of Walmart.  Greg Penner sits on the Boards of Directors of both Walmart and Hyatt Hotels.  Walmart and Hyatt workers, joined by community members, will hold a “Gala for the 99%” at the site of the California Academy of Science’s “Big Bang Gala” in Golden Gate Park, which is co-hosted by Carrie Penner.  The protest, which will begin at 5:00pm in Golden Gate Park, is part of a nationwide 99% Power Campaign to hold corporate America, the 1%, accountable to the rest of us in the 99%. Read more.

Our good friend and brother, Mike Welch, passed away on Sunday, March 25.  Mike retired from his Field Representative position in 2004 due to health reasons.

Mike first worked at the Fairmont Hotel in the dish room beginning in the late 70s. It was a time, not unlike today, of social and political upheaval; and as an activist, Mike threw himself into the labor movement.

Over the course of approximately 30 years, Mike was an important part of the transformation of our Union, making it more member-driven, more militant and more relevant to industry workers.

Among his many accomplishments at Local 2, Mike was:

• A member fo the 1980 hotel negotiating committee leading to the watershed hotel strike that year
• An organizer and representative during the 1984 restaurant strike
• Both an organizer and a candidate in numerous Local 2 elections seeking to make the Union more accountable to its membership
• Always a strong voice for democracy and member participation in the Union
• A leader in labor-management cooperation initiatives, like the opening of Michael Mina’s restaurant at the St. Francis
• A strong advocate for all Local 2 members, especially our immigrant members who fought for a stronger voice on the job.

Mike recruited and trained key rank & file leaders in both the food service and hotel division of our Union.  He demonstrated a unique mix of both patience with the process of change and also righteous indignation when faced with societal and workplace injustice.

In spite of obstacles and the usual setbacks we encounter in our movement, Mike never wavered in his thoughtful and committed approach to improving workers’ lives.  We are indebted to Mike for his service to and belief in our members during times of labor peace and times of struggle.  He will be truly missed.

Mike Welch Memorial
Friday, April 20, 2012 – 4:30 PM
Local 87 Union Hall
240 Golden Gate Ave. (Across from Local 2)

Cynthia Reed — PBX Operator — Hyatt Regency San Francisco  – 22 years of service

A lot of people ask me, “Why do you fight?  You don’t have children.”  I fight because my co-workers have children.  I fight because my co-workers have medical issues.  I fight because it’s the right thing to do and it makes me feel good.  And when I fight, I’m standing up for my rights as well.  I always turn to my Bible and refer to the Malachi.  There are certain things that God asks of us, especially those that He has blessed to be rich.  God says, “Take care of the fatherless and the widows, treat the immigrants in your country justly, and pay your workers fair.”  Those are the only things that are asked.  Pay them fair, because you’re blessed to be rich.  Needless to say, corporations won’t do it.

A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, I moved to San Francisco as a child.  My maternal grandparents died when my mother was very young.   My mother was left to raise five of her younger siblings and me.  She has always provided for us.  Growing up as an African-American has been very difficult.  People believe that racism only exists in the South, but hidden racism saturates San Francisco. I have been surrounded by a lot of racism, especially when I was going to school.  The only difficulties I have been faced with have been outside of my home. Read more.

December 15, 2011

November 23, 2011

Martha and Lorena Reyes, the Hyatt Santa Clara housekeepers who filed retaliation charges with the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), are still out of work this Thanksgiving.  Since Friday, however, when over 100 community supporters picketed the Hyatt Santa Clara in solidarity, thousands of people across the country have added their voices to the calls for the sisters’ reinstatement. Add your voice with our petition at Change.org, and check out the media coverage of the Reyes sisters’ case.