6 months ago
10 months ago
UniteHere makin’ it happen. So brave! (Taken with instagram)
EDIT: Well, geez, iPhone won’t let me put up caption or tags. So here’s the story: 21 July, there was a Rally for Justice on behalf of Hyatt workers across America. I think several cities held their own rallies. Here in San Antonio we gathered at the Grand Hyatt on Market Street to protest the abuse and exploitation of our housekeepers. There was a great turnout and, huge surprise, they took it to the next level by blocking off traffic on Market Street (rush hour, mind you). They held hands and sat right in the street for a good 10 minutes before being arrested. Two of my buddies were sitting there and I couldn’t be more proud of the stand they took. Hopefully, this will bring awareness to the plight that many hotel workers, especially housekeepers, are in. Did I mention it was a good 100 degrees? That asphalt was hot!
Taken with instagram
EDIT: Well, geez, iPhone won’t let me put up caption or tags. So here’s the story: 21 July, there was a Rally for Justice on behalf of Hyatt workers across America. I think several cities held their own rallies. Here in San Antonio we gathered at the Grand Hyatt on Market Street to protest the abuse and exploitation of our housekeepers. There was a great turnout and, huge surprise, they took it to the next level by blocking off traffic on Market Street (rush hour, mind you). They held hands and sat right in the street for a good 10 minutes before being arrested. Two of my buddies were sitting there and I couldn’t be more proud of the stand they took. Hopefully, this will bring awareness to the plight that many hotel workers, especially housekeepers, are in. Did I mention it was a good 100 degrees? That asphalt was hot!
1 year ago
Here are just a couple of signs from the event. There were a lot of good ones but I snapped these. The first one says, “BEFORE Main Plaza
Before the Cathedral
Before the Canary Islanders
WHO WAS HERE?
Las madres de San Antonio were
indias de la tierra”
This refers to the Native people who were here first in San Antonio. And the second one say, “Tenemos Derechos!” which I believe translates to “We have rights!”
So I’m going to queue up some photos from SanAnto SolidarityAction, a rally we held downtown to oppose Arizona’s SB 1070. We look pretty good for a rally. That’s Laura who used to work in a hotel and moi. Notice the dreads looking good? I think I’ll go in for professional maintenance soon but freeform is what I’ve been doing since February. I’ve kind of twisted them into those rope side braids in this photo so you can’t tell, but it’s grown considerably.
OK, enough about hair and onto the rally and march. This same law may pass in Texas in January of 2011 so it wasn’t just in solidarity for Arizona but for the hope that this doesn’t happen within our own communities. We sat and heard different speakers, I believe some were from Arizona also. We heard good music by some Norteña punk band, got our noisemakers and headed out into the streets. It was great!
1 year ago
National Day of Action «
A drizzly day today in San Antonio, but I hope that doesn’t deter folks from coming out to our rally and protest against Hyatt and their awful union-busting ways. Each day my feelings about the union change. For the most part I’m very supportive of it but I also wonder where it’ll all lead to. One feeling that doesn’t change though about the Hyatt is how terrible I think they are. They’ll do anything to keep unions out and that includes threats of firings. In some cases, not threats at all. If there is any reason to keep fighting for a union, it’s because of Hyatt’s selfishness and scare tactics.
I’ll be there to take pictures of the momentous occasion. I highly doubt anyone will be arrested as we’ve done these peaceful protests before. But you do have to wonder if Hyatt or the city of San Antonio will be tired of it and find some way to stop it or make us seem like the bad guys. We’re just wanting everyone to know the situation and the abuse that workers have been going through.
Our mayor, Julian Castro, was on The Colbert Report a couple of weeks ago because maybe other people think he’s a big deal. Truth is he has done nothing for our cause despite saying he gives his full support to us. It doesn’t make sense because the Grand Hyatt is technically city-owned but Castro acts like this isn’t a city issue. If this is the example of business that Julian wants to bring to the city of San Antonio, then we should want no part in it.
I ask all in their respected cities to find out if this is happening in your hometown today at 4:30 and join in to support the workers. I know it’s happening in at least 15 cities. In San Antonio, we will be gathering in front of the Grand Hyatt on Market Street. I’ll be there snapping photos and standing in solidarity with the workers. You should go too. I think it’s going to be great!
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