The Hyatt 100
Encyclopedia
The Hyatt 100 are a group of housekeepers fired from three Boston-area Hyatt
hotels on August 31, 2009. The layoffs drew widespread condemnation from politicians, businesses, and other groups.
s at three Boston-area Hyatt hotels (the Hyatt Regency Boston, the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, and the Hyatt Harborside at Logan International Airport
) were fired and replaced by workers from a Georgia-based temporary agency
. The fired housekeepers, some of whom had worked for the Hyatt for more than 20 years, were given no advance notice of the layoffs. They claim that they were asked to train the workers that replaced them under the pretense that these workers could fill in for them when they were sick or on vacation. The housekeepers originally earned around $14–16 per hour, while the replacement workers are paid $8 per hour.
of Massachusetts called for state employees to boycott of the Hyatt in response to the layoffs, and Representative Michael Capuano also criticized the layoffs
Other organizations and groups boycotting the Hyatt include the Jewish Labor Committee
, the faculty of Emerson College
, and the Boston Taxi Drivers Association.
In December, 2009, Massachusetts Jobs With Justice
voted the Hyatt the Massachusetts Scrooge of the Year in response to the Hyatt layoffs.
Hyatt
Hyatt Hotels Corporation , is an international operator of hotels.Hyatt Center is the headquarters for Hyatt corporation...
hotels on August 31, 2009. The layoffs drew widespread condemnation from politicians, businesses, and other groups.
The Layoffs
On August 31, 2009, 98 housekeeperHousekeeper
Housekeeper may refer to:* Housekeeper , a woman heading up domestic maintenance* Maid, a female with various domestic duties* Janitor, a person responsible for institutional maintenance* A person engaged in housekeeping...
s at three Boston-area Hyatt hotels (the Hyatt Regency Boston, the Hyatt Regency Cambridge, and the Hyatt Harborside at Logan International Airport
Logan International Airport
General Edward Lawrence Logan International Airport is located in the East Boston neighborhood of Boston, Massachusetts . It covers , has six runways, and employs an estimated 16,000 people. It is the 19th busiest airport in the United States.Boston serves as a focus city for JetBlue Airways...
) were fired and replaced by workers from a Georgia-based temporary agency
Temporary work
Temporary work or temporary employment refers to a situation where the employee is expected to leave the employer within a certain period of time. Temporary employees are sometimes called "contractual", "seasonal", "interim", "casual staff", "freelance", or "part-time"; or the word may be shortened...
. The fired housekeepers, some of whom had worked for the Hyatt for more than 20 years, were given no advance notice of the layoffs. They claim that they were asked to train the workers that replaced them under the pretense that these workers could fill in for them when they were sick or on vacation. The housekeepers originally earned around $14–16 per hour, while the replacement workers are paid $8 per hour.
Hyatt Boycott
The layoffs generated widespread public outrage. Rallies in support of the fired housekeepers were attended by hundreds of protesters. Governor Deval PatrickDeval Patrick
Deval Laurdine Patrick is the 71st and current Governor of Massachusetts. A member of the Democratic Party, Patrick served as an Assistant United States Attorney General under President Bill Clinton...
of Massachusetts called for state employees to boycott of the Hyatt in response to the layoffs, and Representative Michael Capuano also criticized the layoffs
Other organizations and groups boycotting the Hyatt include the Jewish Labor Committee
Jewish Labor Committee
The Jewish Labor Committee is an American secular Jewish organization dedicated to promoting labor union interests in Jewish communities, and Jewish interests within unions. The organization is headquartered in New York City, with local/regional offices in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Chicago...
, the faculty of Emerson College
Emerson College
Emerson College is a private coeducational university located in Boston, Massachusetts. Founded in 1880 by Charles Wesley Emerson as a "school of oratory," Emerson is "the only comprehensive college or university in America dedicated exclusively to communication and the arts in a liberal arts...
, and the Boston Taxi Drivers Association.
In December, 2009, Massachusetts Jobs With Justice
Jobs With Justice
Jobs With Justice is a nationally linked network of about 40 local coalitions throughout the United States that bring together labor unions, community organizations, religious groups, and student groups to fight for workers' rights....
voted the Hyatt the Massachusetts Scrooge of the Year in response to the Hyatt layoffs.