The boycott is the latest twist in a saga that began last September, when some of the hotel workers were joined by members of Unite Here Local 11 ? a union representing area restaurant and hotel employees ? in asking the Hilton Glendale's management to remain neutral in the unionization process.
So far, management has refused to sign a card-check neutrality agreement, which would allow the union to poll the workers using cards that employees could fill out in private.
This has led the union to call for a boycott of the hotel, urging patrons not to "eat, sleep or meet" at the Hilton until the union issue is resolved, said Tom Walsh, secretary treasurer of Unite Here Local 11.
"It has been seven months since the workers came out publicly and said a hard day's work is worth a living wage, and this hotel is certainly successful and can afford it," said Walsh. "But management has basically ignored its own workers, the religious community and political leaders who have urged them to listen to their workers' demands."
The Hilton is not opposed to its workers' right to vote, as long as management can remain involved in the unionization process, said the hotel's General Manager Linda Norman
"The union is asking for card-check neutrality, which means we surrender our right to communicate with our team members about important workplace issues that include union representation," said Norman, adding that the hotel's wages are competitive and that none of its workers earn a flat rate of $6.75 an hour, as union officials have claimed.
Norman said that the hotel is not opposed to the alternative to the card-check process ? a secret ballot election that would be conducted under federal law and overseen by the National Labor Relations Board.
