A New Standard for the Hotel Industry and its Workers

Thousands of workers who work at New York hotels are elated as The New York Hotel and Motels Trades Council has successfully concluded early negotiations for a new Industry-Wide Agreement with the Hotel Association of New York City.

Mr. Peter Ward, head of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council pressed in for a new contract
with the Hotel Association of New York City, Inc. (the organization that represents the city’s hotel owners)

Heading the 30,000 members of the New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, Mr. Peter Ward, said, “The hotels represented by the Hotel Association acted responsibly.”

Joseph E. Spinnato, the president of the association, said the hotel owners were pleased to wrap up contract negotiations amicably five months before the current contract was set to expire. “In a constructive and cooperative spirit, we were able to reach this early agreement, which is good for our members, the union and the city of New York,” Mr. Spinnato said.

Under the new contract, employees will receive yearly wage increases, full family medical and dental coverage for the entire seven-year contract. The employers will be required to increase their contributions to the health insurance fund by at least 19.5% over the term of the agreement. The employers will also increase pension contributions by 16.7%.  Employees have more job security in the event they have to go on extended medical leave. Immigrant workers will receive protection against employer harassment regarding their legal status.

The contract, which received national and international attention in the news media when it was first announced last week, will go into effect on July 1, 2012 (when the current contract expires) and will continue until June 30, 2019.

This labor contact is seen as a good model for future contracts.