Story posted Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Charges Of Discrimination Follow Hotel Firings
By TOM ROBB Journal & Topics Reporter
Former employees of the Wyndham Suites Hotel in Glenview plan to be in downtown Chicago next Monday to give depositions to the National Labor Relations Board to support their claim of discrimination and union busting.
The fired employees found a new meaning for "Black Friday" earlier this month. A majority of the hotel's staff, about 90 workers, from general manager down to dishwasher, were given pink slips on Friday, Dec. 4 one day before ownership of the hotel officially changed hands.
Former hotel employees said after all the firings were done only seven employees were left with jobs with new owners of the hotel, Georgia-based Dellisart Lodging and Hospitality Management.
Unite HERE (hotel employees restaurant employees) Local 450 filed a discrimination complaint with the National Labor Relations Board against Dellisart earlier this month.
Local 450 officials charge that union employees were discriminated against in an attempt to push the union out of the hotel and said many employees had worked at the Glenview Wyndham for decades, some as long as 18 to 23 years.
Local 450 union representative Leo Panatsis said it is important for workers to take a stand at the Glenview hotel especially in light of other closings expected at the Wyndham in Rosemont and the Sheraton in Arlington Hts. where Local 450 also represents workers.
Many workers said they were told the reason for the firings was that new owners did not want the hotel to be a union shop. That claim constitutes discrimination, said Panatsis.
Dellisart CEO Douglas Artusio told the Journal & Topics Newspapers his company took over the hotel on Saturday, Dec. 5 and was not responsible for actions taken before that date.
That previous management company was court-appointed GF Management that ran the hotel while the company was in receivership. A former senior management employee said when they were let go, former interim GF Management General Manager Rick Henrickson said Dellisart had left him a long list of employees they wanted to see terminated before taking control on Dec. 5.
Another former manager also said they were told by Henrickson that Dellisart would not require their services. That same former manager said GF Management did not pay them for accrued vacation time as required by law. Panatsis said union members were paid out for their accrued vacation time.
The Journal contacted Henrickson who said he had no comment.
Panatsis said a union contract that expired last May was renewed, signed off on by GF Management officials and was still in effect.
Former workers are regularly picketing the hotel and Panatsis met with staffers for U.S. Rep. Luis Gutierrez (D-4th) to enlist the congressman's aid in getting workers back their jobs.
Workers were given Illinois Warn Act notifications because of an ownership change but Panatsis said many expected to keep their jobs.
Former employees and union officials said employees were not given the chance to apply to the new company until after Dec. 5 when they were told they were welcome to submit applications at the Staybridge Suites in Lincolnshire.
Schedules were posted for workers on Thursday, Dec. 3 for the following week, said Panatsis. Three banquets were held Friday, Dec. 4. When employees scheduled to work arrived, they were told another banquet crew would work the event.
Former employees say several job fairs were recently held at other area Dellisart properties to find the replacement workforce.
Creditors filed suit against the hotel's former owners, Glenview Hotel Partners, to collect a reported $24.6 million in outstanding debt. Once the hotel went into receivership reports say Dellisart was able to purchase the hotel for between $9 and $10 million.
Dellisart also owns Staybridge Suites hotels in Glenview, Lincolnshire and Chicago.
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