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POLITICAL WINS
July 8, 2024 5:09 PM
Political power at work: Local law helps reopen Gregorian Hotel
Ever wonder why our Union gets involved in politics? Look no further than the Gregorian hotel in midtown Manhattan, where NYC’s Hotel Worker Retention Act saved over 40 union jobs this past January.
When the hotel was sold under a court supervised foreclosure auction in 2022, the new owner refused to sign our contract, did not recall the union-represented workers, and brought on family members to work at the hotel instead. The NYC Hotel Worker Retention Act, which our Union pushed for in 2020, protects workers by requiring hotels to retain them for at least 90 days after a sale or change in owner or manager. Our Union used this law to force the new owner of the Gregorian to offer recall and backpay to the former union employees – bringing HTC back to the hotel. Today, our members are back at work and HTC's contract is in full effect.
HTC shuts down iGaming in New York
Since 2019, State Senator Joe Addabbo, who represents the district directly adjacent to Resorts World NYC, has been pushing to legalize online gambling in New York. Our Union rejects online gambling, also called “iGaming,” because it threatens our members’ jobs. If someone can play casino games on their phone from the comfort of their couch, why would they come to a physical casino, where thousands of our members make their livelihoods? If people aren’t coming to the casinos, who would fill the poker tables? Buy the food in the food court? Stay in the hotel rooms?
The supporters of iGaming may have deep pockets, but we have something they don’t: the powerful voices of working people. In February, our Union sent Joe Addabbo a letter express- ing our staunch opposition to his bill, signed by nearly 700 union members of Resorts World NYC.
Three weeks later, it was announced that the iGaming legislation would not move forward this year.
HTC brings home victory for Tom Suozzi in NY-03
Pro-union Democrat Tom Suozzi won February’s special election for the Long Island congres- sional seat vacated by accused fraudster George Santos, who was expelled from Congress back in December. HTC members and staff, along with fellow union workers from UNITE HERE Local 100, spent over 7,000 hours knocking on over 65,000 doors to get out the vote for Suozzi in the weeks leading up to his election.
Gaming facility text amendment passed
On April 18, 2024 the New York City Council voted 35-15 to approve new zoning for casino construction. This important step clears the path for casinos in NYC. Our Union looks forward to seeing the creation of thousands more of the best hospitality jobs in the country.
Willets Point project approved
HTC members celebrated the approval of the Willets Point project at City Hall on April 11, 2024. This project includes a new hotel, thousands of new affordable housing units, and a soccer stadium for the NYC Football Club. The deal includes labor peace, meaning that the new owner will not run an anti-union campaign and can agree to voluntarily recognize the Union if the majority of workers sign union cards.
Affordable housing rally in Albany
HTC flooded the Statehouse in Albany on March 12, 2024, where we participated in an affordable housing rally. Dozens of our members lobbied legislators in the Capitol and the Legislative Office Building, demanding that the state take immediate action to build new affordable housing, and to implement rules that protect tenants from unfair rent hikes and evictions. The very next month, lawmakers passed new affordable housing legislation. The law puts a cap on rent increases, introduces a “good cause” eviction clause, and gives developers who build affordable housing financial incentives.
GET OUT THE VOTE!
70,000 + doors knocked in the last year
100% of HTC-backed candidates in NJ win their races
19 canvassing events to get out the vote ahead of New York's primaries
The New Jersey primary elections took place on June 4, 2024. In the weeks leading up to Election Day, dozens of HTC volunteers went door to door in Perth Amboy, NJ to get out the vote for union allies in Middlesex County: Helmin J. Caba for Mayor, Rose B. Morales, and Stacey Peralta for Council. All three HTC-backed candidates won their races. That's the power of HTC.
Union volunteers were out in full force — canvassing and flyering across New York ahead of the primary elections on June 25, 2024.
RECENT CONTRACT WINS
Hyatt Place Albany
January 10: Workers at the Hyatt Place Albany voted to unanimously ratify their first union contract! Before the union contract, family health insurance could run as high as $820 per month. “Now that we're union, I'm saving a lot on my healthcare and able to put more toward my household,” shared Food Attendant Lori Kolb.
BeHome by LuxUrban
March 26: Workers at the BeHome by LuxUrban unanimously ratified their first union contract. News that the hotel must convert to fitted bedsheets was celebrated with cheers and dancing by room attendants.
Century Association Club
April 12: Congratulations to members at the Century Association who unanimously ratified their new contract! “We accomplished a lot with the new contract. It will provide a better future for me and my family - and all my colleagues and friends with the Union,” shared Waiter John Chediak.
Courtyard Middletown
May 10: Our new members at the Courtyard by Marriott Middletown voted to unanimously ratify their first contract — our Union's 99th GRIWA! This new Catskills hotel adds to our Union’s density in the area — where we also represent the Kartrite Waterpark and Resort, Legoland Theme Park and Resort, Resorts World Catskills, and Resorts World Hudson Valley. As our density in the region grows, so does our bargaining power over employers.
NYRA
June 14: Program Sellers, Cleaners, and Peace Officers at NYRA celebrated their new GRIWA contracts. “This raise will help with our daily life - with rent and expenses for my kids. Especially with my youngest son in college,” shared Cleaner Jacqueline Hernandez.
HTC IN THE NEWS
CITY & STATE
The 2024 New York City Power 100
Leaders who’ve made this the greatest city in the world.
“Rich Maroko has his hands full, thanks to the rebound in New York City’s tourism industry, a dissipating pandemic and the planned downstate casino expansion. The powerful union chief is promoting the Union’s work in getting a contract for housekeepers at the Margaritaville Hotel in Times Square for the first time. He also advocated for the state to extend tax credit programs for low-income New Yorkers. Across the Hudson, Maroko was appointed by New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy to the board of New Jersey Transit.”
CITY & STATE
The 2024 Albany Power 100
The political superstars in the state Capitol.
“Rich Maroko is not wasting away at Margaritaville, he’s too busy making sure the workers are unionized. The powerful hotel labor leader announced that workers at Margaritaville Times Square are now members of the Union, a fight not anticipated under the terms of the Union’s labor agreement in New York City. Maroko is set to see his power grow when the state issues up to three new downstate casino licenses sometime in late 2025, a move backed by the labor leader.
AMNY — OP-ED
Unions: Albany should take a middle ground approach to affordable housing
By Manny Pastreich, President, 32BJ SEIU, Rich Maroko President, Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, AFL-CIO and Henry Garrido Executive Director, District Council 37
“As unions that collectively represent hundreds of thousands of working New Yorkers and their families, our members experience this problem every day. Whether it’s struggling with rising rents and the threat of eviction, not being able to find affordable housing within a reasonable commute to their job, or being priced out of neighborhoods they used to be able to afford, the consequences are a dire and daily reminder that we need more housing to sustain our growing population and the workers, families and individuals who are at the heart of it.”
NEW YORK POST
NYC casino workers bash bill that would legalize online betting in the Empire State
“Nearly 700 Queens casino workers are blasting a bill that would legalize online betting in the Empire State – saying it’s an attack on their jobs."
HELL GATE NYC
The Eric Adams table of success
“What has been the most powerful union in New York City over the past decade? The fire-breathing, reactionary Police Benevolent Association? DC37, the union representing City workers, which has the closest personal relationship with City government? 1199SEIU, with its legion of healthcare workers ready to mobilize at a moment’s notice? The answer is none of the above. It's the relatively small Hotel and Gaming Trades Council, currently led by Rich Maroko, which has capped off its remarkable rise in power with its financial backing of two successive mayors that have been very supportive of its goals.”
CITY & STATE
5 takeaways from Eric Adams’ State of the City
“The State of the City is an opportunity for the mayor to hammer home his administration’s accomplishments to his supporters. And the Hostos Community College theater had no shortage of Adams acolytes eager to cheer the mayor on. Loudest among them were representatives of the Hotel and Gaming Trades Council.”
INDUSTRY NEWS
THE REAL DEAL
City fines short-term rental landlords $16M after crackdown
Hotels see surge in demand and profits, with 10% daily rate leap
“The city law — colloquially known as the 'Airbnb ban' — restricted short-term rentals in New York. Hosts were forced to register their units and agree to abide by all regulations, while the enforcement power of the government was increased. If the goal was to rid the city of its short-term rental options, that has largely been a success.
Since the enforcement of Local Law 18 began on Sept. 5 short-term listings have declined by more than 80%
There were slightly more than 3,000 units left by the start of October, with only 417 in the process of being registered... If the goal of the legislation was to lift the hotel operators of the city, that has been a success, too. Hotels have surged in demand and profitability at the end of the year, recording a jump in average daily rates of 10% year-over-year according to CoStar. Nationwide, that metric jumped by approximately 3 percent.”
2026 FIFA World Cup Final to be held at Metlife Stadium in East Rutherford, NJ
HTC was part of the effort to bring the games to NY & NJ and is still at work making sure the tournament organizers choose HTC shops for accommodating players, game officials, and VIPs. The championship will bring tens of thousands of tourists to the region just weeks after our Industry Wide Agreement expires on June 30, 2026 — increasing our bargaining power tenfold.
NY State Comptroller reports on the return of NYC tourism
NY State Comptroller Tom DiNapoli reported that tourism to NYC in 2023 has nearly rebounded to pre-pandemic levels. In 2023, 62.2 million tourists visited NYC – that’s back to 93% of the record number of 66.6 million visitors seen in 2019. Domestic visitors have led the recovery, with international business travel slower to recover.
The Comptroller’s report highlighted the relative strength of the NYC tourism market compared to other major US cities, with NYC achieving the highest occupancy rate in the country at 81.6% in 2023. The State Comptroller attributed the top occupancy rate not just to the return of tourists to the city, but also on the City’s recent crackdown on illegal short-term rentals.
“In August 2023, before the new City law was implemented, there were 22,247 short term rental listings in New York City, but as of March 2024 that number has declined to just 3,705.”
STATE OF THE UNION MOVEMENT
American Airlines flight attendants picket for better contract
American Airlines flight attendants are in the midst of intense contract negotiations. American Airlines flight attendants haven’t received a raise in five years, meanwhile the CEO earned $31.4 million last year (more than 1,000x the salary of a new flight attendant). On May 9, 2024, HTC picketed in solidarity with the Association of Professional Flight Attendants at JFK Airport.
HTC members rally with Aramark workers in Philadelphia
HTC joined the picket line with Aramark food service workers in Philadelphia. Aramark is a global enterprise that brought in billions in revenue last year. Yet, they refuse to pay fair wages or provide healthcare to many of their employees in Philly. “I work multiple jobs trying to maintain a life and to be able to take care of my uncle who has cancer. The least that the management can do is to give us health insurance and decent wages,” said an Aramark worker. “We truly feel blessed and appreciate all of you coming out. The fight continues!”
“Right to work” repeal takes effect in Michigan
Michigan workplaces are no longer controlled by "right-to-work" laws — regulations designed to weaken unions by allowing workers to receive union benefits while opting out of paying union dues. In a win for the labor movement, Michigan voters repealed these laws in March 2023, a decade after they were implemented in the state.
Starbucks Corp. v. McKinney
In February 2022, Starbucks fired seven workers at a Memphis store just days after announcing their intent to unionize. Their union, Starbucks Workers United, filed charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and won a temporary order to reinstate the terminated employees. But Starbucks appealed the case all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. In a blow to the labor movement, on June 13, 2024, the Court ruled in favor of Starbucks. The decision will make it harder for workers across the country to get injunctive relief against anti-union employers.
HTC supports workers at MGM casino in Springfield, MA
This spring, HEAT Organizers Ivelisse Mercedes and Antonio Rodriguez traveled to Springfield, Massachussetts to support table games dealers, poker dealers, and poker room attendants at the MGM casino ahead of their election for union recognition. On March 9, 2024, despite the company’s anti-union campaign, they voted YES for union representation by the UNITE-HERE New England Joint Board.
