Hyatt Hotels In Boston Outsource Housekeeping Staff For Much Lower-Paid Replacements—Governor Threatens Boycott

Hyatt Hotels in Boston have fired longstanding housekeeping employees and replaced them with outsourced and lower paid staff.

( Above–Boston is a great place to visit. But please do not stay at a Hyatt in Boston until they do right by the people who have worked hard for the company.)

From a September 18th post in the USA Today blog Hotel Check-In— 

It all started on Aug. 31 after the morning shift, when Hyatt Hotels’ corporate headquarters laid off the entire housekeeping staffs at the Hyatt Regency Boston, Hyatt Regency Cambridge and Hyatt Harborside Hotel, according to the Globe. Citing the tough economy, the existing housekeepers – some of whom at worked at the hotels for years – were fired. Hyatt then hired new workers from an out-of-state staffing firm, according to the story. And in a point now being disputed by Hyatt, the Globe also said that the housekeepers had to train their replacements after being told they would fill in for vacations…. Fast forward to this past Thursday. Several hundred hotel workers came out to rally against the firings in front of the Hyatt Regency Boston, chanting “Hyatt, shame on you,” according to the Globe..US Representative Michael Capuano and state Senator Anthony Galluccio called for a boycott of Hyatt, according to the Globe’s piece. “Maybe they should have just taken the chocolates off the pillows, I don’t know,’’ Capuano told the people assembled, according to the story. “If we let them do this, another hotel will do it, and then another business, and on and on.’’… The controversy kept snowballing today, with even the Harvard Business Review scolding Hyatt in its blog post headlined, “Lessons From Hyatt: Simple Ways to Damage Your Brand.”

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has threatened a boycott of Hyatt Hotels  by state employees on official business. 

Hyatt provides jobs for people and most of us need jobs. But we can’t get by in a nation where loyalty and good work has no value. Hyatt should bring back the dismissed workers. If wage cuts must be made, then deal with the people who have had a hand in making Hyatt a successful hotel chain.

When will American business places realize that if they hope to make money, that there are going to have to be workers and consumers who have good paychecks and steady work?

When will American consumers realize that a focus on price at the expense of everything else will lead only to a downward spiral of wages and benefits?

Noel Freeman For Houston At-Large Seat #4—I Wish I Had Something I Could Put On My Car For Mr. Freeman

I support Noel Freeman for Houston City Council At-Large # 4.

I support Mr. Freeman even though he is not as far to the left as I am.

Mr. Freeman offers a solid mix of experience and personal qualities that will well- serve the people of Houston.

Please click here to learn more about Mr. Freeman’s campaign.

Mr. Freeman has been an employee of the City of Houston since 2004. He has worked in the Public Works and Engineering Department and, also, in the Office of the City Engineer.

From day one on City Council, Mr. Freeman will bring a strong understanding of how to assist citizens of Houston in dealing with city government. He will offer comprehensive knowledge of infrastructure issues facing Houston.

In 2009, Mr. Freeman completed studies for a Masters in Public Administration from Norwich University. Mr. Freeman has a Political Science degree from Texas A & M. Mr. Freeman served in Operation Desert Fox as a member of the U.S. Air Force. 

Mr. Freeman was for many years a Republican. As he reflected on the politics of our nation and on his views about public policy, Mr. Freeman became a Democrat. He lists himself on his Facebook profile as a “Moderate Democrat.”

There is something to be said about a person who thinks things out and changes his views. It’s not just that Mr. Freeman came to a point closer to where I am on the ideological spectrum—Though he still has plenty of room for a further shift to the left—it is that Mr. Freeman thought stuff out, saw the facts, and was open to changing his mind.    

A mix of concern over fixed-principles along with open-mindedness is a great combination in a person and in a political leader. It is a sign of personal strength.

These personal qualities along with his knowledge of how Houston works make Noel Freeman an excellent candidate for Houston City Council.

Wanting to show my support, I called Mr. Freeman’s campaign office a few days ago looking for a bumper sticker. The gentleman on the phone said they were not doing bumper stickers for the campaign.

Okay–But I sure wish I had a way to express my support for Mr. Freeman on my car. If Mr. Freeman or someone in his campaign happens to read this post, could they help me out with that?

I’d put a big magnet sign on my car door if they had something like that. Whatever. Anything that does not peel the paint. I’m on the road an average of 40 miles a day and plenty of people would see the car.  

Please click here to learn more about Mr. Freeman’s campaign.

(Below–Car with many bumper stickers. Not my car.)