Press Releases

Courtyard Marriott Workers Vote to Join UNITE HERE
Form union for dignity and respect at work

Monday, December 15, 2008/Niagara Falls - This weekend, workers at the Courtyard Marriott in Niagara Falls voted to join UNITE HERE Local 2347 in a bid to improve working conditions. Workers in housekeeping, laundry and the gift shop are all now members of Niagara’s hospitality union and will begin negotiating their first collective agreement in the New Year.

“I am extremely pleased that my co-workers voted to join UNITE HERE,” said Marie Oddson, a housekeeper at the Courtyard Marriott. “We really need to make things better at work and in the hotel industry as a whole in Niagara. I think that we can make a real difference for our families and for all tourism workers throughout the Niagara region.”

The Courtyard Marriott is part of the Niagara 21st Group which has five other hotels in Niagara Falls and is owned by members of the Menechella family.

“This is an important victory for hotel workers in Niagara,” said Alex Dagg, UNITE HERE Canadian Co-Director. “The Courtyard Marriott workers have stood up and said clearly they want dignity and respect at work and are organizing with our union to make a real difference in their working lives.”

Sandra Rebrovich, president of Niagara’s UNITE HERE Local 2347 agrees.

“This victory really shows the need for improvements in Niagara Falls’ hospitality sector. We’re thrilled the Courtyard Marriott workers embraced our union’s message of hope that together we can make things better in our workplaces and in our community.”

UNITE HERE Local 2347 represents more than one thousand members in the Niagara region, primarily in the hotel and restaurant industries. UNITE HERE is committed to organizing workers in Niagara’s hospitality sector.
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For more information, please contact Ethan Clarke at 905-358-2347 or Wynne Hartviksen at 416-473-2632.

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