Three Hyatt properties in Boston are alleged to have fired 98 housekeeping staff under false pretenses, laying off scores of long-term workers who were earning $15/hour, and replacing them with outsourced staff from a Georgia company earning only $8/hour and receiving far fewer benefits.
Their case has gained national attention, and MA Governor Deval Patrick has launched a boycott of state employees against the chain, a somewhat symbolic move that has already compelled the corporation to step up its severance benefits and job re-training and placement assistance for the laid-off workers.
Join this boycott today, telling Hyatt that you refuse to patronize a business that engages so shamelessly in low-road business practices, pursuing profitability on the backs of the lowest-wage workers by relying heavily on outsourcing to the lowest bidder.
MA Boycott Support: Reinstate Boston Housekeeping Staff Now!
Dear Mr. Hoplamazian
I join Governor Patrick and Massachusetts state employees in boycotting Hyatt properties unless you reinstate the 98 terminated housekeeping staff immediately. I cannot support this low-road business strategy, especially during an economic downturn. I reject your company's arguments that this is necessary for maintaining good customer service and that the boycott threatens your other employees. Your irresponsible actions have done that, and I cannot patronize the Hyatt hotel chain, and will encourage others to join me, until you reverse this alarming decision.
Governor Patrick sums it up perfectly:
"surely there is some way to retain the jobs for your housekeeping staff, as other hotels in the area have done, and to work with them to help the company meet its current challenges, rather than tossing them out unceremoniously to fend for themselves while the people they trained take their jobs at barely livable wages... the treatment of these workers apprears to be so substandard that it leaves me no choice" but to join this boycott.
Please reconsider your actions.
Thank You.
[Your name]