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Gabriel Diaz, Sheraton New York
Gabriel Diaz, a room service server and Delegate at the Sheraton New York, has sadly passed away.
Those who knew Gabriel remember him as a warm presence, hard worker, musician, and a loving husband and father.
Garde manger and Delegate Eladio Acevedo worked with Gabriel for almost 30 years and remembers him as a fierce Delegate for his coworkers. “Gabriel was a defender. I call him that because at work, Gabriel would always stand up to management and defend his coworkers. He became a Delegate because he was committed to being a voice for his fellow Union members. He helped people raise issues at work, and made sure people had the resources that they needed. He loved our Union and would often go to events and rallies to fight for us. They way I see it, he had two jobs: he would serve the guests as a room service server, and he would serve the members as a Delegate.”
Read the full tribute to Gabriel here.
Zackery Sandstrom, Metropolitan Club
We are saddened by the loss of Zachery Sandstrom, a bartender at the Metropolitan Club for over 18 years. Known by many as simply “Zac,” he was a loving father, grandfather and husband. Zac was a native of Chadron, Nebraska, who moved to New York as a young man, who eventually became a beloved figure at the Metropolitan Club where he was known as the “glue” that held people together, leaving a lasting impression on his coworkers and the members at the Club.
His friend and coworker, club waiter Jose Collado, recalls that Zac knew every single member no matter where they were from. “He was loved by everyone at the Club,” said Jose. “To be a good bartender, you have to have a good memory, know a lot of stories and be a skill conversationalist, so Zac was very good at his job. Members would come in and saying, ‘I want a martini, but I want Zac to make it.’”
Read Zac's full tribute here.
Republican “HEALS” Act is really the “HURTS Act”
July 31, 2020 12:06 PM
Back in May, the Democratic-controlled House of Representatives passed the HEROES Act, a comprehensive bill that would extend the emergency increase of $600/week in unemployment benefits through January 31, grant nearly $1 trillion dollars in emergency support for local and state governments, fund and expand programs to help working people during this crisis, and shore up the teetering U.S. economy.
For over two and a half months, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and the Republican-controlled Senate have refused to vote on - or even debate - the HEROES Act, and they have also exhibited no sense of urgency to propose their own bill.
On Monday, July 27th, McConnell finally released a Republican proposal: the “HEALS Act.” The inaptly named bill fails miserably to address the current crisis facing many Americans. Read more...
We Built This City: Immigrant Labor & The Fight for a Democratic New York
HTC President Peter Ward joined esteemed Irish Consul General Noel Kilkenny as a speaker at the March 27th, 2013 St. Patricks Day Celebration banquet.
As Peter Ward celebrated the legacy of Irish labor he also cautioned that the "human, legal and social institutions" that Irish and other immigrant laborers helped build over the last century are under attack. Today, he said, labor has a responsibility to protect the public education system, public university system, public parks and all the other institutions that are the pillars of a democratic New York City. Peter closed his speech reminding the audience that the fight that Irish and other immigrant workers started over a century ago to ensure that New York "belongs to its people" is nowhere near over.
An update on healthcare negotiations
August 3, 2020 12:53 PM
Many members are understandably anxious about losing their healthcare at the end of August. We are working diligently to negotiate an extension to your healthcare coverage and to extend the Coronavirus safety agreement.
These negotiations have been exceptionally challenging given that the industry is not making any revenue right now and the cost of healthcare is approximately $50 million a month.
We will keep you updated on the status of negotiations. If you haven’t already, please sign up to receive text alerts from the Union. If you have questions, you can contact the Union at (212) 245-8100 and select option #1 or submit a question online.
Peter Ward Retires and Rich Maroko Named to Succeed Him
August 12, 2020 11:34 AM
After 41 years of distinguished service, HTC President and Local 6 Business Manager Peter Ward announced he was stepping down from both his union offices to begin his retirement. On August 12, Mr. Ward and all of the General Officers enthusiastically recommended that the HTC and Local 6 Executive Boards, and Local 6 Delegate Assembly vote to appoint Richard Maroko, the Union’s chief negotiator, HTC Recording Secretary and General Counsel, and Local 6 Executive Vice President to succeed him as the leader of HTC and Local 6. That recommendation was wholeheartedly moved, seconded and enacted unanimously by all three governing bodies, as prescribed in the by-laws of both HTC and Local 6. Read more...
An In-Depth Look at the Career of HTC’s New President, Rich Maroko
August 12, 2020 4:04 PM
By Former President Peter Ward
When I announced to the General Officers and Executive Boards of HTC and Local 6 and the Local 6 Delegate Assembly that I had decided to retire, I recommended that Rich Maroko be appointed to fill my vacant offices. I explained to them the many reasons why I believed Rich’s appointment would be good for our Union.
The purpose of this report is to provide you with the same detailed description of Rich’s biography and career with HTC and Local 6. Most of you who know him, know how hard-fighting and smart he is and how much he cares about our members, but I think it is accurate to assume that you do not have as complete a knowledge of his many accomplishments on behalf of our Union as I have. Read more...
An outpouring of love and gratitude for former President Peter Ward
Many members have contacted us to thank Former President Peter Ward for his 41 years of service to our Union and wish him well in his retirement.
We encourage any member who wants to, to send a thank you video to [email protected]. You can also mail a handwritten note.
BREAKING NEWS: Extension to Healthcare Benefits and Coronavirus Safety Protocol
August 15, 2020 10:34 AM
I am pleased to report that, late last night, and after arduous negotiations over the last few days, we were able to finalize an agreement with the Hotel Association that (1) continues healthcare for an additional month for members covered by the IWA and Division A contracts and (2) extends the Coronavirus Safety Protocol Agreement for the duration of this public health crisis.
