Hotel Workers Tell Bank: “We Saved Your Jobs, Now You Save Ours”

[Omaha Steve]

http://blog.aflcio.org/2010/08/18/hotel-workers-tell-bank-%E2%80%9Cwe-saved-your-jobs-now-you-save-ours%E2%80%9D/

by James Parks, Aug 18, 2010

Taxpayers bailed out Bank of America to the tune of $45 billion. Now, it’s time for the Big Bank to return the favor by saving the jobs of more than 1,500 hotel workers.

By October, the Columbia-Sussex hotel chain needs to refinance its $1.1 billion loan or it may potentially default. Bank of America is the special servicer of $539 million of Columbia-Sussex’s debt. If the company is forced into default, the workers could be out on the streets.


Nelly Villalobos called for Bank of America to save the jobs of 1,500 hotel workers.


Karl Taylor, a member of UNITE HERE! Local 7, who has worked at the Sheraton Baltimore City Center for 11 years, says

It’s been a rough few years with all the cuts from Columbia Sussex, but now I just hope Bank of America saves my job.

Late this afternoon, hundreds of Columbia-Sussex employees and supporters braved the rain to rally outside a Bank of America branch in Washington, D.C., to back Taylor and his co-workers. Standing by the BOA building, which is in the shadows of the U.S. Treasury Department, they told the bankers whose jobs they rescued with their taxes to “Save Our Jobs.” They want Bank of America to protect their jobs regardless of how their employers’ debt is ultimately worked out.

FULL story at link.

[sandnsea]

1. That's a great idea

Are there more workers going after the banks to provide financing?

[jillan]

2. Love it!

[Canuckistanian]

3. It seems a fair request

One might say BofA OWES them, although not on paper.

But certainly in reality.

[Coexist]

4. that is awesome.