On October 7, the Edmonton Oilers hockey team checked in at the Ritz-Carlton in downtown Boston, a Marriott hotel. As they got off the bus, the team was greeted by a group of hotel workers on strike, members of Local 26 of the Hospital and Food Servers Union. 7,700 Marriott workers are out in six cities across the USA: San Diego, Detroit, San Francisco, San Jose, and Boston. They are demanding the richest hotel company in the world recognize them.
With the Local 26 workers picketing outside of the hotel beside the main entrance, the Oilers, who are members of the NHL Players’ Association, crossed right through the line carrying their bags and sticks. The New York Yankees, who are members of the MLB Players Association, have also crossed the picket line.
In the 2016/17 season, the wealthy Oilers franchise spent $74 million U.S. dollars in player payroll. In July 2017 star player Connor McDavid, 20, was signed to an eight-year $100 million contract extension with an average annual value of $12.5 million (U.S.). In contrast, the main slogan of the striking workers is One Job Should be Enough to create jobs that allow them to pay the bills, raise a family, and retire with dignity.
Dougal MacDonald on Facebook
Marriott hotel workers Facebook page
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