May 17, 2005


UNION FILES CHARGES AGAINST MONTEREY BAY TRAVELODGE

Monterey, May 17: UNITE HERE Local 483 has filed unfair labor practices charges with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) against the Monterey Bay Travelodge, including employee affidavits accusing the hotel owner, Kilsoo Seo, of threatening to fire the union shop steward and close the hotel should union protest activity continue.

Among the charges filed on April 22 against Seo by UNITE HERE Local 483 Secretary-Treasurer, Leonard O'Neill, were:

* Interfering, restraining and coercing Steward Juana Enriquez in the proper exercise of her duties by threatening to fire her, and

* Threatening to close the facility giving the impression to the [employees] that their efforts were futile and/or could lead to bankruptcy should they continue.

Written statements from Monterey Bay Travelodge employees accused Seo of threatening to fire Local 483 shop steward, Juana Enriquez, if she continued to talk to the media about the 10-month labor dispute at the hotel. Workers also reported that Seo said he could close the hotel or file for bankruptcy, leaving the employees jobless. The employee statements reported on discussions with Seo in March of 2005.

Ms. Enriquez, a 14-year housekeeping employee at the Travelodge, was recently named Woman of the Year for the 27th Assembly District of California by the office of Assemblymember Laird.

"We filed these charges to protect the Travelodge workers," said Local 483 O'Neill. "Workers have a legal right to exercise their union rights without interference and threats from management."

This is the second time the union has filed unfair labor practices charges against the Monterey Bay Travelodge. The NLRB required the hotel to post notices allowing the employees to leaflet without interference in its November 2004 settlement with the hotel over the last union charge.

The new Local 483 allegations come amidst a long-running public dispute with Seo--who lives in Bethel, Alaska--after he eliminated the health insurance and pension plans of his 13 Latino employees, while freezing their hourly wages at $8.84 last October.

UNITE HERE Local 483 will hold a rally to protest Seo's actions against his employees tomorrow, Wednesday, May 18, from noon to 1 p.m. in front of the Travelodge at 2030 North Fremont Street in Monterey. This will mark the 38th such rally since July 29, 2004.

For more written information please see the website www.BoycottMontereyBayTravelodge.info