Thirty hotels, almost all of which are unionized, have agreed to call their staff back as soon as business is restored. According to Local 26, however, 28 hotels did not search – at least not publicly – for websites and media reports, but did not contact the non-union hotels directly. As a result, it is possible that some of these hotels are under no obligation to inform the union of their plans, simply have not announced their intention to reinstate workers.
The union sees the campaign as an opportunity for these hotels to make their intentions known, although others in the industry are concerned that this public shame may be premature as hotels have few guests – some remain completely closed – and mass recruitment has yet to take place booted.
But with the general population on the verge of being vaccinated and the lifting of restrictions, tourists could travel in greater numbers, especially if there are more meetings and weddings. And workers who have been unemployed for more than a year – an estimated 85 percent of hotel workers – are eager to see if they can get their jobs back.
The Revere Hotel Boston Common, Boston Marriott Copley Place, and the Four Seasons Large parts of their workforce were laid off on Boylston Street last year. While Promised four seasons later Employees who would come first for their work when the business returned, the other two properties didn’t make such promises.
Esther Montanez, a housekeeper at the Hilton Boston Back Bay, said she hadn’t heard of being reinstated. Montanez and her union workers urged the hotel to get involved in hiring staff once there was enough work, including trying to petition managers earlier this week, but they refused to meet with workers , she said. Montanez, a 31-year-old single mother of a 5-year-old, is unemployed but no longer has health insurance.
“We are only asking that we come back when there is work to return to,” she said in Spanish through a translator. “It is difficult when you are trying to get confirmation from a company that does not communicate with you and does not give you that assurance.”
The Back Bay Hilton did not respond to requests for comment, and Hilton headquarters declined to speak, finding that the property was a franchise business that was not operated by the company.
Paul Sacco, head of the Massachusetts Lodging Association, said it was only logical that hotels would reinstate their existing employees.
“We are very aware of the devastating impact the pandemic is having on so many of our employees,” he said. “I think there will be ample opportunities for employees to return to full employment in an improving economy.”
The Boston hotel market has been harder hit than most due to severe restrictions during the pandemic and heavy reliance on business travel and group reservations. In January, occupancy in the Boston area was just 17 percent, compared to almost 67 percent last January, and revenue per available room fell 81 percent, according to hotel consultancy Pinnacle Advisory Group.
Local 26 is concerned that employers will try to make up for financial hardships by cutting labor costs, whether by involving less expensive contractors, replacing front desk staff with machines, or giving guests the option to clean their rooms less frequently to let. Hotel jobs pay decent wages and can help build wealth for the many black and Latin American workers, mostly women, in the industry, said Carlos Aramayo, president of Local 26.
“Incumbents should be shown a basic level of respect so they can offer these positions before opening those positions to everyone else,” he said. “I don’t think we’re asking for anything here that is completely off the wall.”
Local 26 is also pushing for it legislation This would allow Massachusetts cities to pass a law giving hotel workers laid off during the pandemic first dibs when their positions return. Similar regulations were passed in several cities across the country, including Providence.
Hotels desperately looking for guests could face backlash from socially conscious tourists who find out a property hasn’t committed to bringing their workers back. After a year of economic devastation and social upheaval that exposed inequalities in our society, consumers are paying more attention than ever to who they do business with, said Sandy Lish, co-founder of Boston-based public relations firm Castle Group.
“There’s no hesitation at all about calling any company or brand that isn’t doing the right thing,” she said. “It’s culture to break off, right? I hate to use that term, but people are quick to say, “OK, forget it … I’m not staying there.” ”
Katie Johnston can be reached at katie.johnston@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @ktkjohnston.
