BOYCOTT WATCH

What is a hotel/restaurant boycott?

A boycott is when hotel or restaurant workers ask individuals and organizations not to eat, meet or sleep at their place of employment.  Although the cause of a worker-called boycott can vary, the effects are similar. Noisy rallies, picket lines, increased police activity, street closures, leafleting, vigils and even interruptions to hotel services are all possibilities when visiting boycotted hotels and restaurants. In addition, boycotts can escalate into strikes or worker lockouts.

No matter what the effects of a boycott may be, one thing is always consistent.  When workers call for a boycott of their place of employment, it is a very serious decision that takes courage and merit.  Workers in such a position deserve the community’s support.  For that reason, we encourage all individuals and organizations to stand with workers and honor any worker called boycotts.  Be sure to book your events to avoid boycotts by following the following guidance.

How can a person or organization avoid hotels subject to labor disputes?

• Before booking your hotel reservation, check out our official Union Hotel Guide of North America

• When negotiating an event contract with a hotel, insist on adding “excused non-performance” language into your cancellation clause that specifically protects your event from the effects of a strike, lockout and boycott. Check our sample language to help you protect your event.

• Always do a brief internet search on the property that you are considering, try the following search strings: "Hotel-name labor dispute boycott strike" OR "Hotel-name picket lines protests union"

• When making your reservation, do not rely on information relating to labor disputes that is given to you by hotel sales associates or reservation specialists. Such associates often earn commission on sales and they may be inclined to distort the truth when asked questions relating to labor disputes. Also, reservations agents may be unaware of disputes because they are usually located off-property; sometimes other states and even other countries.

• If you aren't sure, call the local UNITE HERE affliate and ask if they are currently engaged in any labor disputes at hotels in the  area. You can find list of affliates here.