TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - June 1, 2011) - During Sexual Harassment Awareness Week, housekeepers across the GTA hold a public event, speaking out against sexual affronts and other abuses in the hotel industry.
| WHAT: | Press Conference with Housekeepers about sexual assault and other dangers in the workplace. |
| WHO: | Andria Babbington, Local 75 WSIB and Health and Safety Specialist; Cicely Phillips, Local 75 Vice- President; Sid Ryan, President, Ontario Federation of Labour. Hotel housekeepers, who are members of Local 75, as well as non-union housekeepers, will be present. |
| WHERE: | The Local 75 Housing Co-op, 2ndFloor, 60 Richmond Street East, Toronto. Events will also be held in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Sacramento, Phoenix, Boston, San Antonio, and Indianapolis. |
| WHEN: | Thursday, June 2, 2011, 10:30am. |
| WHY: | Inspired by the courageous stand taken by the housekeeper at the Sofitel New York against one of the most powerful men in the world — Dominique Strauss-Kahn — housekeepers across North America are coming forward to share their own stories and launch a campaign to break the silence about the routine sexual misconduct and other forms of abuse that housekeepers face at work. |
Standing together, housekeepers are also demonstrating that having a union, as is the case of the Sofitel housekeeper in New York, is a powerful tool that workers have when harassment occurs. With the backing of a union, housekeepers can address security concerns with management proactively and women can report incidents without fear of reprisal.
As part of the action, housekeepers are also calling on hotels to consider a number of common-sense preventative measures to help workers stay safe on the job.
Local 75 represents over 7000 hotel, hospitality and gaming workers in the Greater Toronto Area.
Contact Information:
Amarjeet Chhabra
416-856-9587
achhabra@uniteherelocal75.org
UNITE HERE Local 75
Lis Pimentel
416-458-3273
lpimentel@uniteherelocal75.org