Workers and Westin Book Cadillac set up to end a multi-week strike

According to the union, about 90% of the 160 unionized workers in the hotel participated in the strike. This includes Starbucks staff from the hotel. However, the restaurants of the Michael Symon Hotel Roast and Grill 24 are separate businesses and are not involved in the labor dispute.

Union officials said Friday to the free press that, although the hotel remained open with the help of managers, replacement workers and non-participants in the strike, several groups canceled banquets and / or hotel rooms since the beginning of the strike, including the artist Elton. John, who changed plans for his hotel during his farewell visit to Detroit. The nightly occupancy rate of the Cadillac Book, normally about 90 percent, has plummeted to between 30 and 40 percent, union members said.

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Employees of the Westin Book Cadillac Hotel represented by UNITE HERE Local 24 began a strike on Sunday, October 7, asking the hotel managed by Marriott to negotiate fair wages, better food plans, and more. insurance and much more. (Photo: Aleanna Siacon, Detroit Free Press)

More: Westin Book Cadillac workers retire and demand "fair wages" at Marriott

Specifically, workers were seeking the same rates of pay as the Renaissance Center Marriott. The Cadillac Book is more profitable than the Renaissance Center, trade unionists said, but they earn an average of $ 2 to $ 3 an hour for similar jobs. Employees of the Marriott Renaissance Center also contribute less to their salary for employer-sponsored health care.

Unite here AFL-CIO Local 24 plans to share "full details" of new contracts after Marriott-operated hoteliers who went on strike in six other cities have agreed, said Saturday release. These cities include Boston, San Francisco, San Diego, San Jose and two cities in Hawaii, Honolulu and Maui.

According to the union, the six cities have either planned to resume negotiations or look for dates to resume.

"Whatever their background, race, age, or department, the workers refused to be divided and so came out victorious. We hope that similar progress can be made in the six cities still on strike. Marriott's progress in Detroit shows that they are able to make reasonable progress. What we have achieved will change the lives of workers and the hospitality industry here in Detroit, "Winston said in a statement.

The Book Cadillac hotel opened in 1924 and closed in the mid-1980s, deteriorating to the point of becoming a ruin. It reopened in 2008 as a result of a massive $ 180 million redevelopment involving multiple complex funding levels.