South Bay Marriott Lodge staff on strike say Silicon Valley location is impacting their lives
SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) – Around 220 strikers from the Marriott hotel gathered outside the hotel on Market Street in downtown San Jose.
The group joined thousands of Marriott hotel employees in San Francisco and the United States who quit their jobs early Thursday morning.
RELATED: For the first time since 2004, Marriott works in San Francisco are on strike
A press release from union officials at Unite Here Local 19 said: “Three of the major issues are the need for Marriott to lead the hospitality industry – and recognize its role as the largest and most profitable hotel company in the region.” the world and provide workers with jobs enough to make a living from. “
Another requirement is the protection of jobs in the face of innovations and new technologies. This refers to advances that are taking place every day in the technology capital of the world.
San Jose Marriott employees told ABC7 News they just want to make ends meet. Many acknowledge that the Silicon Valley region’s reputation is different than anywhere else in the world.
“I worked for this company for over 15 years, but about three and a half years for this hotel,” said Sonia Fabian, a server in the San Jose location.
Fabian and other workers are members of Unite Here Local 19. Union leaders and picket lines demanded that “one job” is enough to live in Silicon Valley.
“Right now these workers you see on the picket line have to have two or three jobs to make ends meet,” said Enrique Fernandez.
Fernandez is the union’s executive director. Another concern, he says, is whether the “one job” workers want will have anything to do with advances in technology at all.
“Are we going to lose our jobs because a robot will add a convenience to the rooms?” He said. “I mean, that’s why we’re confronting each other now and they have to talk to us!”
Fernandez said workers and union leaders understand that innovation is inevitable, especially in the world’s technology capital. However, he says the strikers deserve to know how Marriott’s decisions will affect their worlds.
Sonia Fabian described her need: “I support three children and all I ask is a job that is enough to support my family.”
In an interview with ABC7 News, Fabian’s voice had almost disappeared. She and the 220 others gathered outside the San Jose site at 4 a.m. on Thursday morning.
The group plans to remain on strike until their demands are met.
Click here for a list of the Marriott Hotel locations affected by the national strike.
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