Socialist Action /September 2002
Hotel Workers Rally in Duluth
By ADAM RITSCHER
DULUTH, Minn.-Between 400 and 500 workers rallied here on Aug. 20 in
support of the struggle by hotel workers to organize. The protesters assembled
at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center, where the Minnesota AFL-CIO
was holding its annual convention, and marched through Canal Park in the
city's tourist district.
Hundreds of tourists looked on as protesters and members of dozens of
different unions chanted out calls for justice and solidarity with the underpaid
and super-exploited workers that form the backbone of the region's tourist
economy.
The march ended in front of the Inn on Lake Superior, where a group of
between 40 and 50 activists from the labor movement, the Community, Religion
& Labor Network, the Greens, and Youth for Socialist Action proceeded
to enter the hotel and occupy the lobby. Inside the hotel they staged a
sit-in while Father Brian Schultz led a prayer calling for justice for hotel
workers.
Outside, protesters heard speeches from several different people: Alan
Netland of the Duluth Central Labor Body; Ray Waldron of the Minnesota AFL-CIO;
Roger Moe, who is running for governor; Adam Ritscher, who works at the
Inn as a housekeeper and who is a member of Youth for Socialist Action;
and Carol Carlson, president of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees
(HERE) Local 99.
The spirited rally was the largest action held on behalf of Canal Park
hotel workers since HERE Local 99 began its organizing drive here in September
2001. It comes on the heels of a series of rallies and marches, as well
as twice a week informational picket lines that the union has been organizing
since Dec. 6.
Canal Park historically was an industrial and warehouse district in the
port city of Duluth. The district has been completely revamped in recent
years and turned into one of the Midwest's most visited tourist destinations.
Millions of dollars of taxpayer money were given to the Canal Park developers,
despite the fact that they included Duluth's richest and most powerful families,
like the Paluccis and Goldfines.
Once they got the money, the developers built expensive hotels for the
well-to-do that are run by young workers who are grossly underpaid, almost
totally uninsured, and often are unable to get enough hours, forcing them
to work second, and even third jobs to make ends meet.
Given the decline in Duluth's industrial sector, service industry jobs
in these new hotels and restaurants are basically the only jobs available
for young workers.
HERE Local 99 began its Canal Park organizing campaign after receiving
phone calls from hotel workers regarding forming a union. Since the campaign
began, the workers fighting for a union have received tremendous community
and labor support. Still, the powerful owners of the Canal Park hotels have
so far refused to sit down with the union. That is why actions like the
march and hotel occupation on Aug. 20 are so important.
An example of the power of such actions is the boost in morale that this
march gave workers inside the Inn on the Lake. Everyone was talking about
it and many were quite thrilled by such a large outpouring of support from
so many different unions.
HERE Local 99 has a boycott against all five of the Canal Park hotels.
Volunteers are needed to help walk the picket lines and organize future
actions. For more information, visit the union's website at www.local99.com.,
or call (218) 728-1720.
Socialist Action /September 2002 |