Boathouse rally rescheduled for April 21

Hotel Voice — April 10, 2011

It's official! The new date for the rally at the Boathouse restaurant in Central Park is Thursday, April 21 at 4:30 p.m. The rally had been scheduled for April 1, but the threat of severe weather forced its cancellation. The Union is now hard at work preparing for April 21.

As we said last week, members can't wait for the rally. A strong mobilization effort continues in the shops and has members ready for whatever activities are needed to show support for the Boathouse workers.

The employees of the Boathouse are trying to join the Hotel Trades Council and want to bargain collectively with the restaurant's operator, Dean Poll, who is one of the worst employers the Union has ever encountered. Poll and his staff face dozens of unfair labor practice charges, as well as additional employees' charges of wage and hour violations and tip stealing. In spite of this, Poll is fiercely opposing the Boathouse employees' effort to join our Union. He has held captive audience meetings and hired anti-union consultants to try to dissuade Boathouse employees from joining the Union. But the employees are remaining committed and united. Like the other members of our Union, they look forward to the April 21 rally.

"Even Dean Poll is talking about the rally," one of the Boathouse employees reported to Hotel Voice. "He is not happy about it."

The fact that Dean Poll is unhappy about the rally should encourage even more members to attend! Again, the rescheduled rally at the Boathouse will take place on Thursday, April 21, at 4:30 p.m.