NEW YORK, NY – While Unite Here battles Airbnb Inc. in New York City and other major municipalities
throughout the country, United Auto Workers has organized cafeteria workers at Airbnb facilities. Bon Appétit contracts food services for Airbnb in San Francisco as well as Portland, Oregon. These are now UAW union shops with signed contracts.
Chris Lehane, Airbnb’s global head of policy and public affairs, issued the following statement during the UAW organizing campaign. “Workers should be treated with dignity and justice and we are glad to have UAW represent workers who provide services to our employees.” When UAW organizing was taking place, Airbnb insisted that Bon Appéti remain neutral on whether its employees unionize.
At the same time the UAW organizing drive was underway, Airbnb was continuing to battle another union. Unite Here has waged war with Airbnb for years. As more travelers use Airbnb services, hotels are utilized less. This is a growing concern for Unite Here with thousands of members working in hotels. However, the public is not aware that assaults are continuing to rise at Airbnb host locations.
The New York Hotel and Motel Trades Council, a Unite Here affiliate, has partnered with the hotel industry to successfully push for stricter regulations in the hospitality industry. The efforts of the Hotel Trades Council have documented that Airbnb hosts are operating illegally. Often conditions are unsafe within the Airbnb network in New York City and other locations. Thefts and assaults are occuring in the Airbnb host facilities and stricker regulations are needed.
