Union Wins GRIWA Contract for Sheraton Mahwah Workers

Jorge Salazar, lobby attendant and union delegate, declares the Sheraton Mahwah a union house.

The Union has won a GRIWA (Greater Regional Industry Wide Agreement) contract at the Sheraton Mahwah Hotel. This marks the 24th hotel signed onto the GRIWA in New Jersey! On September 28th, 2016, the workers at the hotel unanimously ratified the GRIWA. The contract creates a new era of higher wages, better benefits, scheduling rights and strong job protections, and is the future for hotel workers in New Jersey. “It has taken a Herculean effort, but we have nearly achieved our goal of having every union hotel in the region covered by the GRIWA”, said Richard Maroko, HTC Executive Vice President and General Counsel and lead negotiator of the GRIWA. Maroko added, “Winning the GRIWA has been transformative for thousands of New Jersey hotel workers.”

Spike McNamara, a banquet bartender and delegate at the Sheraton Mahwah said, “The new GRIWA healthcare option is a huge win for my coworkers and me. Since management changed a few years ago the union has been forcing the new employer to reimburse us for increased costs. Now, with the GRIWA, we’re going to have a plan that provides great coverage with no more need for reimbursements. We’re all very excited.”

Jorge Salazar, a lobby attendant and delegate said, “All of my coworkers in housekeeping are thrilled to be protected by the union’s master contract, the GRIWA, that also covers so many of our union brothers and sisters working at other hotels in the area. We’re all thrilled with the new benefits the GRIWA has brought us.”