For the first time in Indianapolis’s recent history, 43 participants staged a mass civil disobedience in front of the Hyatt Regency downtown. Hospitality workers and community supporters of the hotel workers were there to stand up for the Hyatt workers who have been asking management to stay neutral since November of 2008. Among the 43 were two JwJ staff members, seven steering committee members and many other JwJ pledge signers.
On June 16, reports surfaced that the Hyatt had plans to sell the Hyatt Regency in Indianapolis, adding to the uncertainty that Hyatt workers in Indianapolis already face. Over the past decade, taxpayers in Indianapolis have invested $1 billion into the development of the local hospitality industry. The hotel and convention industry in Indianapolis is booming yet at the Hyatt Indianapolis, a non-union hotel, subcontracting of jobs is rampant, hours have been reduced in recent months, and workers earn some of the lowest wages of any Hyatt workers in North America. Housekeepers at the Hyatt Indianapolis, clean up to 30 rooms in an 8-hour shift.
“I’ve worked at the Hyatt for 29 years and if the Hyatt sells our hotel, I’m faced with starting all over again losing benefits that I’ve worked hard for,” said Jackie White.
Joanne Sanders, minority leader of the City County Council stated, “Every taxpayer in Indianapolis is providing Hyatt management with corporate welfare. Every time Hyatt cuts a worker’s hours, they are expecting taxpayers to provide some form of assistance in order for Hyatt workers to survive. This is why I’m standing with the workers today.”
Many other JwJ members were among the one hundred bystanders witnessing the civil disobedience. In addition to educating the public about the hotel workers’ struggles, Central Indiana Jobs with Justice has also started a community conversation about the billions of tax dollars invested in downtown Indianapolis in exchange for low paying jobs with no benefits, and continued corporate profit.
