Workers can’t wear union pins according to Doubletree policy
Labor organizers were dealt a blow in their effort to unionize local hotel workers when an administrative law judge last week threw out a complaint that alleged managers at the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel were violating the rights of employees by banning union pins at work.
Judge Jay R. Pollack dismissed the union’s complaint in its entirety. He wrote in his ruling that he was barred from considering the charges by an earlier compromise in the dispute, which is centered around whether employees should be allowed to wear union buttons on the job.
Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 11 have for two years been waging a campaign to unionize workers at the Doubletree, 1707 Fourth St. The union has filed two separate complaints, alleging the hotel’s jewelry policy, which implicitly prohibits wearing union buttons, is a violation of workers’ rights.
Though the National Labor Relations Board, a watchdog group that polices labor law, picked up on both of the union’s charges against the Doubletree, it reached a settlement with hotel managers in January that allowed the hotel to keep its policy without explicitly banning union buttons or insignias.
“To take 12 days instead of three months means that there was no basis (to the complaint).” — — FRANCOIS KHOURY General manager, Doubletree Hotel
Under the policy, workers are permitted to wear only three types of pins. They are required to wear a promotional white and blue pin that says “Catch Me At My Best,” name tags and service recognition pins. HERE called the policy a violation of the constitutional right to freedom of expression, since union pins were banned. Hotel officials denied that the policy was illegal.
Local 11organizing director Kurt Petersen did not return calls seeking comment Wednesday, and it was unclear if union lawyers would appeal the Pollack’s ruling. Any appeal would be heard by the NLRB in Washington, D.C.
“It’s a matter of several months usually, but that can vary,” said NLRB lawyer Laurel Spillane.
Francois Khoury, general manager at the Doubletree, said the hotel filed legal briefs in the case less than two weeks before the ruling.
“To take twelve days instead of three months means that there was no basis (to the complaint),” Khoury said. “The mere fact that they answered so fast, it means that overwhelmingly there was no basis to start with... All (union organizers) can say now is they’re going to appeal it again.”
While the legal wrangling over the buttons continues, workers union contract is expected to be voted on at the Four Points Sheraton in the coming weeks. Three other hotels — the Viceroy, Fairmont Miramar and Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel — already have a union presence. Supporters of organizing local hotel workers have said they won’t rest until the other six — including the Doubletree, Shutters on the Beach, Casa Del Mar, Le Merigot, the Radisson Huntley and Holiday Inn Santa Monica Pier — are also organized.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on September 25, 2003. Read the original PDF.