By: Maria-Paula

Workers at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City recently voted decisively to form their union as Grand Hyatt Washington remains under boycott over the same grievances. A formal vote supervised by the National Labor Relations Board saw 68% of the housekeeping staff of the hotel located next to the Reagan National Airport sign union authorization cards in July, prompting union elections.
 
Despite weeks of aggressive anti-union campaigning from Hyatt as an employer, housekeepers who organized with UNITE HERE Local 25 sought union representation over overwhelming workloads, low pay, and lack of affordable health insurance. 

UNITE HERE Local 25, constituted primarily of immigrants and women of color, is a hospitality workers union that represents 6,500 workers in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia. The secured new contract will raise area union members pay by 25%, under a new four-year contract with improved benefits and overall better compensation and working conditions for its members.
Olga Ortiz, a housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City and campaign leader, shared the workers’ excitement regarding the win at the site.
“It didn’t matter what the company threw at us. We stood strong and stood together. Now we are preparing to win our first contract with fairer workloads, higher pay, and affordable benefits,” said Ortiz. 

Other unions, including the Association of Flight Attendants, whose members frequently stay the 2799 Richmond Highway hotel, were in solidarity by joining almost every picket line. Local elected leaders, including Rep. Don Beyer and state Dels. Adele McClure and Paul Krizek; State Sen. Barbara Favola; County Board candidate JD Spain, Sr.; County Board members Takis Karantonis, Maureen Coffey and Matt de Ferranti; and Alexandria School Board rep Abdel El Noubi also threw their weight behind the Hyatt Regency Crystal City workers in their quest for change.
After a supermajority of workers signed union authorization cards, housekeepers at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City filed for a union election on Friday, July 12th. Hyatt, on the other hand, commenced an anti-union campaign inside the hotel, which included regular anti-union meetings and ongoing distribution of anti-union leaflets. Despite the anti-union pressure from management, the picketing workers united outside the hotel every Saturday until their scheduled NRLB election and consequent victory over their employer. 

Unionization is a significant step towards improving working conditions and ensuring employees have a stronger voice in negotiations. In most cases, the collective bargaining by unions leads to better pay, benefits, and job security, which are crucial for all workers’ well-being.

“We are grateful to our labor and elected allies who stood by the Hyatt workers every step of the way. This victory speaks to the incredible resilience of these workers in the face of pressure from the company and the deep support for the union in the department. Hyatt should now work with us to reach a fair and expeditious first contract,” said Paul Schwalb, executive secretary-treasurer, UNITE HERE Local 25.
 
Although the direct employees in the Hyatt Regency Crystal City’s housekeeping departments are now in a union, the fate of its J&B Cleaning subcontractors remains uncertain after J&B Cleaning workers began organizing with UNITE HERE Local 25 to address workplace concerns at Hyatt Crystal City. J&B notified Hyatt of its intent to terminate its contract with the hotel, and Hyatt cut off and eliminated worker shifts, leaving 25 of its employees jobs in jeopardy just days after they filed for a union representation election. The workers have been warned by their managers that they will be fired entirely because of their union organizing activities. 
 
In return, UNITE HERE Local 25 has also filed a wage theft complaint with the U.S. Department of Labor, alleging that J&B Cleaning is routinely not paying for all the overtime hours of work done at the hotel. Local 25 has also filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against Hyatt and J&B Cleaning over the use of non-compete policies that bar employees from working at Hyatt for a year if they leave or are terminated from J&B
 
As the Grand Hyatt Washington remains under boycott with unresolved labor disputes, UNITE HERE Local 25 organizers have been meeting with its workers. The Union filed an unfair labor practice charge accusing the management of illegally surveilling and intimidating workers as they were meeting with organizers.

Generally, the move has received support from community members and local officials who view unionization as a benefit for both the workers and the community at large.