Support Rochester Holiday Inn Workers—How You Can Help

"Letter to Editor"

02/07/2007

Support Rochester Holiday Inn Workers

Four days before Christmas, 2006, the new owner of the Holiday Inn Express in downtown Rochester, MN fired the 19 union employees. The employees were told that they would not be rehired because they were union members. Many of these workers had worked more than ten years at this hotel. Our community does not support eliminating living wage jobs with good benefits only to replace them with poverty level jobs with poor or no benefits. The workers, members of UNITE/HERE Local #21, and their union decided to stand-up and fight for their jobs.

For the last month, the workers have been picketing the hotel daily during its busiest times. They have also engaged the community in several e-mail and letter writing campaigns. They have also been talking about their struggle with local political and community leaders.

The workers' demands are simple: 1) They want to be returned to their jobs; 2) They want the new owner to negotiate a contract with their union; 3) They want back pay for the time they have been off work; 4) They want personal letters of apology from the owner for disrupting their lives; 5) They want the owner to publicly apologize to the Rochester community for disrespecting our community standards.

The workers need your support. They are members of the National Guard, our religious communities, mothers, fathers, grandparents - all providers for their families.

YOU CAN HELP...

Join the picketing in front of the Holiday Inn Downtown

Thursdays have been designated DFL Help Day---please join in if you can!

You are welcome to join any day: Monday – Friday, Sunday: 5pm -7pm

If unable to join the picketing, drop by with a non-perishable food donation for the familes on Thursdays, 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. or 5:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.


Write a letter to the editor: E-mail:


Send a donation as these workers reorganize their lives

MAKE CHECKS PAYABLE TO:

WORKER ASSISTANCE FUND
c/o Holiday Inn Workers
MINNWEST BANK
331 16th Ave NW
Rochester, MN 55901
________

For further information please contact:

Bob Rouillard
507-421-8826

Visit this site for more opportunities:

http://www.unionvoice.org/campaign/HolidayInnRochester?rk=G7_KRo61JQtkW