NoVa Hotel Workers Demand Dignity, Respect

(Metropolitan Washington Council, AFL-CIO)

Cooks, housekeepers and other hotel workers rallied at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel in Arlington Friday, outraged by the hotel’s recent firing of three pro-union employees. Herman Romero (at left), a cook at the Sheraton Crystal City for almost 6 years, told Union City that he was fired last Tuesday after the hotel claimed “that there is not enough work for us,” but that “I believe that the real reason I was fired is because I have been very vocal about the benefits of union representation.” Santana Alvarez, a dishwasher for over 18 years who was also fired last week, said that “even before we were fired, there was too much work; we are greatly understaffed and are forced to work heavy loads for very little money.” Delmy Morales, a housekeeper for over 12 years, added “we want to be treated with dignity and respect; we are tired of our managers questioning us about our union activity and then cutting our work hours and pay.” - story/photo by Adam Wright