action: Virginia Organizing Project

[colist-admin at comm-org.utoledo.edu]

From: Joe Szakos <szakos at virginia-organizing.org>

WE NEED YOUR SUPPORT -- PLEASE PASS THIS ACTION ALERT ON TO OTHERS!!

Don't you think that if Courtyard By Marriott charges $119 per night for
a room that they can afford to pay their housekeeping staff a living
wage of at least $8.00 an hour?

The Marriott Corporation, which had sales of $8.7 billion in 1999, plans
to open at least 200 new hotels each year for the next three years.
Yet, they do NOT pay their Charlottesville housekeeping staff a living
wage.

Also, the City of Charlottesville allowed Courtyard By Marriott to
destroy two historic properties in order to build the hotel.

WE WANT COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT IN CHARLOTTESVILLE TO PAY ITS EMPLOYEES A 
LIVING WAGE.

The City of Charlottesville pays its workers a living wage.

The Charlottesville School Board pays its workers a living wage.

Albermarle County (adjacent to Charlottesville) employees are paid a
living wage.

The University of Virginia announced last week that it would begin
paying its workers a living wage.

Many other private employers in the area pay a living wage, BUT NOT
COURTYARD BY MARRIOTT!

We are asking for help from groups and individuals throughout the
country since the hotel business relies on people who are traveling.
Please take two or three minutes and contact Courtyard By Marriott to
encourage them to pay all their workers a living wage:

         Tim Stiffler, Owner of the Courtyard By Marriott in
Charlottesville
         Tidewater Hotels and Resorts
         3600 Pacific Avenue
         Virginia Beach, Virginia  23451
         757.425.5422  phone
         tstiffler at thrvb.com

         John McCracken, Manager
         Courtyard By Marriott
         1201 West Main Street
         Charlottesville, Virginia 22903
         804.977-1700 phone
         jmccracken at thrvb.com


Please support the efforts of the Virginia Organizing Project, the
Public Housing Association of Residents, the Labor Action Group and
others in pushing for a living wage from every employer in the
Charlottesville area and let Courtyard By Marriott know that paying
their staff people less than a living wage is not acceptable!!

Many thanks for your help!

--
Joe Szakos, Executive Director
Virginia Organizing Project
703 Concord Avenue
Charlottesville, Virginia 22903-5208
(804) 984-4033
(804) 984-2803 fax
szakos at virginia-organizing.org
http://www.virginia-organizing.org