CHICAGO (March 21, 2011) – Regional offices of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) have rejected four petitions filed by Hyatt hotels in California and Indiana requesting that Hyatt associates be given the opportunity to vote on whether or not they want the labor union UniteHere as their bargaining representative.
Hyatt had asked the NLRB to hold supervised secret-ballot elections at the hotels where, for more than two years, Hyatt associates have been subjected to intimidation and harassment by the labor union UniteHere in its attempts to assert itself as the representative of these associates.
The NLRB had scheduled hearings to review the petitions for three of the four properties, but later cancelled those hearings after learning that UniteHere was not asking for an election or willing to publically state that it represents a majority of Hyatt associates. The leaders of UniteHere ignored multiple requests from Hyatt to join in an NLRB-supervised secret-ballot election.
“Although our request for elections has been denied, we believe the NLRB would have looked upon the matter differently if the leaders of UniteHere had agreed to a federally supervised election as they have nearly 300 times over the past five years,” said Robb Webb, chief human resources officer, Hyatt Hotels Corp. “We urge UniteHere to reconsider their decision, so that each of our associates can exercise their right to be heard by casting a ballot. While it’s unusual for an employer to request an election, the option has existed at the NLRB for more than 75 years now, and we believe it is the best way in this case to bring an end to the boycotts, pickets, home visits, and aggressive outreach that has intimidated our associates, their families, and many of our guests.”
Hyatt filed petitions for elections for Fisherman’s Wharf in San Francisco, Hyatt Regency Santa Clara, Hyatt Regency Long Beach and Hyatt Regency Indianapolis.
The NLRB, established with the passage of the National Labor Relations Act in 1935, is the independent federal agency responsible for the scheduling and execution of private-sector elections to establish or dissolve union bargaining units.
About Hyatt Hotels Corporation
Hyatt Hotels Corporation, headquartered in Chicago, is a leading global hospitality company with a proud heritage of making guests feel more than welcome. Thousands of members of the Hyatt family in 45 countries strive to make a difference in the lives of the guests they encounter every day by providing authentic hospitality. The Company’s subsidiaries manage, franchise, own and develop hotels and resorts under the Hyatt®, Park Hyatt®, Andaz®, Grand Hyatt®, Hyatt Regency®, Hyatt Place® and Hyatt Summerfield Suites® brand names and have locations on six continents. Hyatt Residential Group, Inc., a Hyatt Hotels Corporation subsidiary, develops, operates, markets or licenses Hyatt ResidencesTM and Hyatt Vacation Club®, which is changing its name to Hyatt Residence ClubTM. As of December 31, 2010, the company’s worldwide portfolio consisted of 453 properties. For more information, please visit www.hyatt.com.
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Lori Alexander
Hyatt Hotels & Resorts
(312) 780-5709
lori.alexander@hyatt.com