Hundreds turn out to call for higher pay

Wearing red T-shirts and blowing high-pitched whistles, hundreds of hotel workers rallied on Fifth Avenue in downtown Seattle on Thursday to call for better wages and benefits.


		Karen Ducey / P-I
	A rally for hotel workers in Seattle on Thursday attracts members of other unions, including Jonetta Green, left, Jackie Keen and DeAnna Botello, all of SEIU 775.

UNITE-HERE Local 8 organized the rally in front of the Westin Hotel, as part of a national "Hotel Workers Rising" campaign.

At least 300 people, including Mayor Greg Nickels, filled the sidewalk and street.

Richard Sawyer, Local 8 secretary treasurer, had pointed comments for the hotel industry, which he said pulls in billions of dollars each year. But, he added, many industry workers do not share in that prosperity.

"It's low pay, hard work and has a high rate of injuries," he said. "A large sector of this industry is below the poverty line."

In the Seattle area, he estimates there are about 10,000 hotel workers -- and many earn only $8.50 an hour. The federal poverty level for a family of four is $18,850.

Organizers picked the Westin as the rally site, partly because it is one of Seattle's largest hotels and also because it is in labor negotiations with Local 8 members.

Several Westin employees said they enjoy working at the hotel, but they hope their wages will increase to match increases in rent, gas and health care costs.

"We're just looking for a living wage," said Desta Springer, a Westin bell captain, who has a roommate to defray her rent.

While the 27-year-old Seattle resident earns $8.23 per hour, cash tips from customers help buoy that amount.

George Graves, 25, washes laundry at the Westin and earns $10.18 per hour. He hopes that amount will be bumped up to at least $12. He copes by limiting social activities.

"I don't go out very often," he said. "People are getting frustrated."

Westin General Manager Elisabeth James declined to comment about wage rates because labor negotiations are under way with union members.

"They're concerned about the same things we're concerned about, wages, benefits and quality of life," she said. "We're looking for a settlement that's beneficial to all sides."

She added that cash tips from customers do help many hotel employees with their expenses.

The rally, in which people held signs, involved theater. Organizers brought a giant inflatable cat, which clutched a figure of a person in its paw.

"It's the fat cat, strangling the worker," said Springer.

The rally received support from members of the Retired Public Employees Council of Washington, the Alliance of Retired Americans and the International Union of Operating Engineers.

UNITE-HERE stands for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.

P-I reporter Brad Wong can be reached at 206-448-8137 or bradwong@seattlepi.com.

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