September 6, 2006

Caribo has worked at the Westin for more than 11 years. In her address to the audience at the rally, she said that workers in the back of the house — among them, housekeepers and laundry workers — are overworked and sometimes push carts that weigh more than 800 pounds.

“We are the backbone of the hotel and deserve to be treated as valuable individuals,” said Caribo.

Swett said that as a tipped employee in the front of the house, she has a different experience than those in the back of the house. “They treat me better than the housekeepers get treated,” she said, adding that workers like her do not get wages that keep up with inflation.

“Seattle is a very expensive place to live,” Swett said. “Some of these people have to work two jobs.

The struggle described by the two women and many of the rest of the workers in attendance was symbolized by an inflatable suit-wearing cat. Jessica Lawson, an organizer of Thursday’s rally, urged the workers to greet the Fat Cat with “boos” and to blow their UNITE HERE whistles in the fat cat’s face. Once the workers had joined together, the fat cat was deflated.

Caribo and Swett were joined by two to three hundred people, including UNITE HERE International President John Wilhelm and Mayor Greg Nickels.

“Seattle is a city of human beings,” sain Nickels, “but it needs to be a city where people can afford to live in decent housing with their families.”

Those rallying cheered on the mayor as he made a promise to everyone in attendance. “We’re going to win this battle, and we’re going to win this war.”

Erik Van Rossum, who is one of the UNITE HERE Local 8 coordinators of the rally, said the goal of the rally was to “raise awareness” and help workers “lift one another above the poverty line.”

Union official Rick Sawyer said the Westin fight will “set the benchmark” for hotels and their workers all across Seattle. “This is not just an issue that affects hotel workers,” he said. “It affects the whole community.”

UNITE HERE stands for the Union of Needletrades, Industrial and Textile Employees and the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union.