News
HTC Celebrates Mayor de Blasio’s Summer Tax Relief for NYC Hotels
May 21, 2021 5:48 PM
On May 19th, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio signed an Executive Order putting a pause on the City’s hotel room occupancy tax this summer. The Executive Order is intended to accelerate the economic recovery of the hotel industry and encourage hotels to reopen and recall hotel workers. Guests will not have to pay the 5.875% occupancy tax from June 1 through August 31, effectively lowering the cost of rooms this summer and hopefully, driving up occupancy. Read More...
NYC Introduces Ranked Choice Voting. How Does It Work?
May 18, 2021 11:16 AM
New York City’s primary election will look a little different this year. The City is introducing ranked choice voting, a system that lets voters rank candidates in order of preference. Instead of voting for only one candidate on the ballot, you will be able to rank up to five preferred candidates. Read more...
HTC Endorses Queens Borough President Donovan Richards for Re-Election!
May 17, 2021 2:54 PM
On Tuesday, May 4th, HTC President Rich Maroko joined Queens Borough President Donovan Richards to announce our Union’s endorsement of Richards’ re-election campaign.
President Maroko outlined for a crowd of HTC members why Donovan Richards is the right choice for working people in Queens, “Donovan has been one of the City’s fiercest advocates of workers, especially hospitality workers. As a city council member, he was a huge champion of HTC and its members.” Read more...
Senator Schumer Joins HTC to Celebrate the Partial Reopening of the Brooklyn Health Center!
May 17, 2021 12:49 PM
On Monday, May 10, our Union celebrated the partial re-opening of the Brooklyn health center alongside New York Senator and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer.
A long time friend and ally of our Union, Senator Schumer successfully negotiated 100%, fully subsidized COBRA as part of the American Rescue Plan earlier this year. The federal legislation has allowed thousands of our laid off members to get their free family healthcare back through September 30th. Read more...
HTC’s Own Tsultrim Sangmo Speaks at Rally for City Council Candidate Amit Singh Bagga!
May 10, 2021 5:00 PM
On May 1, 2021, over 60 HTC members celebrated International Workers Day by attending a rally for city council candidate, Amit Singh Bagga. Bagga is running for City Council District 26, which includes the Queens neighborhoods of Sunnyside, Woodside, Long Island City, Astoria, and Dutch Kills.
Tsultrim Sangmo, a room attendant at the Time hotel for 22 years and active Union member, gave one of the opening speeches at the event. Read more...
HTC Members Rally for NYC Mayoral Candidate Eric Adams!
May 10, 2021 4:48 PM
On Saturday, April 24th dozens of HTC members and their families came out to support Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in Cadman Plaza Park, Brooklyn.
Our Union endorsed Eric Adams for NYC Mayor earlier this year. During the event’s opening remarks, HTC President Rich Maroko explained why, “Eric Adams will lead us out of this crisis and rebuild the city’s economy for working class people. Our Union is proud to support a champion of the working class.” Read more...
2021 Writing Contest Rules and Entry Procedures
April 22, 2021 12:55 PM
The 2021 writing contest is now open to all children and eligible dependents of HTC and/or Local 6 members. Multiple prizes ranging from $500 to $3,000 will be awarded. Read more...
Union's Annual Writing Competition Is Here! Offering Cash Prizes to High School Students
April 22, 2021 12:54 PM
For 18 years now, the Union's annual writing contest has offered high school students the opportunity to show their creative talents and have a chance to win cash prizes at the same time. In the competition's history, over 1,000 students have submitted entries and almost $200,000 in prizes have been awarded to the children of our members. This year is no exception, with the competition offering cash awards in two categories: Essay and Fiction/Non-Fiction Narrative. Read more....
NY State Budget Includes Tax Relief for Upstate Casinos, Protecting Thousands of Union Workers
This spring, our Union urged the New York State Senate and Assembly to adopt several measures to protect casino workers as part of the 2021 State Budget. Read more...
“Don’t Check Out on the Hotel Industry: Approve the Tax Adjustment for Upstate Casinos” – Empire Report
March 27, 2021 11:00 AM
This week, NY State lawmakers are considering a budget proposal to allow for fairer tax rates for Upstate casinos. HTC member Jason Donnelly, a table games dealer at del Lago Resort & Casino, explains in the Empire Report how tax parity is critical for supporting good union jobs and the local economy in the Finger Lakes. Read more...
“Expand local casinos, create jobs: Union says gaming benefits several sectors of economy” – Daily News
March 26, 2021 7:39 PM
In an op-ed for the Daily News, HTC President Rich Maroko advocates in favor of expanding table game licenses Downstate. As New York recovers from the COVID-19 pandemic, we demand that our legislators look out for working people and protect good, union jobs like those at Resorts World New York City and Empire City Casino. Read more...
HTC Backs Budget Proposals to Help New York State Casinos
March 26, 2021 7:32 PM
This week, the New York State Senate and Assembly are negotiating over the state budget. Up for negotiation are two proposals that would provide desperately needed relief to New York's casinos. Our Union is urging New York State take action to help New York’s casinos and protect thousands of our members in the gaming industry. Read more...
Congressional Roll Call of Honor and Disgrace
March 14, 2021 3:24 PM
The Democrats in Congress got all of the relief we were depending on against fierce opposition from the Republican Party. Look at how your elected representatives voted below, and remember their names. When you are once again back at work, knowing that your family is safe and secure, don’t forget who had your back – and who voted to leave you hanging. Read more...
“Powerful Hotel Trades Council backs Eric Adams for NYC Mayor” – NY Post
March 3, 2021 1:49 PM
On March 2nd, we announced our endorsement of Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams for Mayor of New York City. The news made the NY Post, which described our union as “potent” and spoke highly about our mobilization efforts. Read more...
Eric Adams, Our Choice for NYC Mayor
By HTC President Rich Maroko
In February, our Union endorsed Brooklyn Borough President Eric Adams in his campaign for New York City mayor.
This election may be the most consequential one we’ve faced since we started our Union’s political program 15 years ago. The leaders we elect this year will decide how to rebuild our City’s economy, drive tourism, and reopen the hotel industry after the COVID-19 pandemic. They will have a huge say over how working people – and our members – are treated during the economic recovery. If that weren’t reason enough to take these elections seriously, in all likelihood, whoever wins the mayoral election will also be elected to a second term. That means that the mayor who is elected this year will likely be in power when our industry-wide contract expires in 2026. Read more...
High School Seniors Can Apply Now for 2021 College Scholarships!
February 19, 2021 4:58 PM
The Union is happy to announce that both the Vito J. Pitta scholarship program and the Hotel Trades Council Division A scholarship program are now accepting applications for the 2021 awards! These programs provide an outstanding opportunity for the children of HTC and Local 6 members to receive funding to help attend the college or university of their choice and to realize their career goals. For these reasons parents should not let their children miss out on the chance to enter these competitions! Read more...
After a Grueling Anti-Union Campaign, Union Election Begins for Amazon Workers in Alabama
February 9, 2021 7:17 PM
On Monday, February 8th, Amazon warehouse workers in Bessemer, Alabama began casting their ballots to join the Retail, Wholesale, and Department Store Union (RWDSU). If a majority of Bessemer workers vote for the union, the warehouse will become the first unionized Amazon facility in the country.
Amazon has relentlessly campaigned against the union. The company’s no holds barred union-busting tactics unfortunately come as no surprise to our Union. For over 80 years, hotel workers in New York City have had to endure similar intimidation, surveillance, and a barrage of lies from employers when organizing.
NYC Unions Combine Forces to Elect Pro-Worker Majority to City Council in 2021
February 9, 2021 12:21 PM
This year, New Yorkers will elect the next City Council, borough presidents, and mayor. These local elected officials will be in charge of New York City’s economic recovery from COVID-19. Many of these races are competitive and it’s critical that we elect individuals who will prioritize the problems faced by New York City workers in the months and years ahead. As part of our efforts, our Union has joined forces with four other powerful local unions – SEIU 32BJ, Communications Workers of America District 1, District Council 37, and the New York State Nurses Association – to elect a slate of pro-worker and pro-union candidates. Read more...
Remembering Roy Broomfield
February 1, 2021 3:51 PM
The union is deeply saddened to report that Roy Broomfield, a fixture at HTC and Local 6 for decades, has passed away. Broomfield had spent his retirement in Florida, and passed away in hospice there at the age of 87. Read More...
Minutes into his presidency, Biden ousts union-buster Peter Robb
January 25, 2021 1:11 PM
Just 23 minutes after being inaugurated as the 46th President of the United States, President Biden asked Peter Robb to resign from his position as General Counsel of the National Labor Relations Board (“NLRB”). When Robb refused, Biden fired him. Robb, a high-profile union buster, was considered by many to be the most dangerous General Counsel to oversee the NLRB in decades. Removing him was a critical first step toward leveling the playing field for America’s workers. Read more...
