Filipinos Join March for Justice in the Workplace

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By Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America Bureau

SAN FRANCISCO – Filipinos joined about a hundred protesters last night, braving the rain and marching through the streets of San Francisco with one message — stop abusing workers!

Reverend Israel Alvaran of the group, Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, was one of the religious leaders who organized the candlelight procession. He said, "We want to offer the light that faith brings — to strengthen workers and also ask management to have a change of heart."

At the center of their advocacy — the plight of 9,000 hotel workers in the country who continue to work without a contract. More than 16 months have passed since the workers and their union have been trying to negotiate better wages and benefits.

Josephine Rivera, union organizer for Unite Here said, "The workers and the union go into the negotiating table with hope, because management gives us hope that things would get better. But they never follow through. So it's very frustrating for people who do not get the help they need."

Francisca Ramos has been working in the hotel industry for 21 years. She said she's never seen workers so devalued. She said jobs have been lost, hours have been cut — and yet workload has increased.

She said, "People at work are stressed, not knowing if they will have a job tomorrow. There are bills to pay and families to feed. But we know that the only way to put a stop to this is if we fight together and make sure we get the contract we deserve."

Following the candlelight procession, the workers barged into the Grand Hyatt Hotel, armed with a different kind of Christmas card. The Grand Hyatt Hotel is one of th emajor hotels in the U.S. negotiating with the workers.

Alvaran said, "The card says that in this time of darkness, there is hope and light for workers…management needs to have a change of heart and treat workers well now that the holiday season is here."

Hotel spokesperson Sam Singer said they do care for their employees — but the bad economy makes it harder to give them what they want.

Singer said, "The Grand Hyatt Hotel in San Francisco is working hard to make sure the rooms are filled so the workers can have good benefits and good salaries. We're doing our best in a difficult economy."

Protesters said that even with the tough economy, these hotels earn millions and should start investing in their workers.

In the middle of their boycotts and strikes, these workers and their advocates say they can only pray that their employers would somehow be enlightened and realize that it's never too late to make things right.

http://www.balitanga...-the-workplace/