David Michel

A big congratulations to the Stamford Sheraton workers on their first union contract!

This is wonderful news. Fellow State Rep. Matt Blumenthal and I penned an Op-Ed supporting the Sheraton Workers in January. We were hoping for a favorable result after more than a year of contract negotiations. The results are indeed favorable and will take care of the Sheraton Workers who in turn, I'm sure, will continue to provide the best possible service for their guests.

Please see Monday's press release below:

This afternoon the workers at the Stamford Sheraton Hotel, members of Local 217–UNITE HERE! voted today in favor of ratifying their first union contract. This vote caps off a year’s effort by the union and the hotel to reach a settlement in the best interests of the employees, guests and company.

“I am very proud of my co-workers for our new contract. It will improve the lives of the workers at the Sheraton Stamford and their families.” Mariela Sanchez, a room attendant at the hotel.

The new union agreement will run for three years and contains many important improvements for the employees. Employees who are enrolled in the company’s health plan will see their weekly premiums decrease, in some cases by more than $50 per week. Employee’s pay will increase by $1.40 an hour during the life of the agreement and the starting pay for non-tipped employees post probation will be a minimum of $15 an hour increasing to $15.90 over the next two years. Banquet servers and set-up staff share of the gratuity will also increase. Of particular significance, the housekeeping room quota will be reduced to 16 rooms per eight hour shift over the next 24 months, an especially important improvement to the room attendants who do this back-breaking work day in and day out.

In addition to the economic improvements, employees will now have stronger seniority, scheduling and promotion rights. The most important non-economic improvement is the parties agreed that if the hotel were to be sold, the buyers would be obligated to hire the employees and recognize their union and maintain their wages, benefits and union contract. Today’s ratification vote at the Sheraton makes this the third hotel in the Stamford market to unionize. With this victory, workers join their co-workers in UniteHere! Local 217 who work at the Stamford Hilton and the Greenwich Hyatt covered under union contracts. The Hyatt’s contract expires this coming September and the parties plan to start bargaining within the next few months.

“We are very pleased with this settlement especially since it will allow the workers to improve their ability to care for their families, work with dignity and provide great service to the Sheraton guests. And I want to especially thanks State Representatives David Michel and Matt Blumenthal who stood with us to reach a fair settlement for all parties,” stated Connie Holt, the union’s chief negotiator and the Secretary-Treasurer of UniteHere! Local 217.