Fired but no union help

San Francisco--I have been employed at Grand Hyatt Hotel in Union Square for 33 years, mostly as a housekeeper. Last year, 23 employees were denied their seniority benefits and asked me to represent them. We won their benefits, but I lost my job.

The management didn't like me fighting for others. They took away my days off, created traps for me, like leaving $2,000 in a room with a hidden camera. I didn't take it, so they could not use that to fire me. There was no reason for my termination, but they fired me anyway. Unite HERE Local 2 has not been there for me.

Our shop steward was not elected by us. She was appointed by union management, although she is assistant manager in the hotel. She accused me of hurting her standing as a steward when I asked that she grieve the wrongful termination. The union does not take up my case: there is no picket line, no representation.

My unemployment benefit was denied. The hotel is retaliating against my sister, too. Other workers are scared to show support for me, because they know they will be next. Is the steward union or is she management? How can she be both?

At a San Francisco Labor Council meeting on May 11, Mike Casey, Unite HERE Local 2 representative to the Council, told me not to speak about the problem with the steward. He said if I do, he will have to take action against me. He never mentioned my case, he announced another picket line for about the same time as I asked people to come in front of this hotel to support me. Recognizing a union is more important to him, as it represents more dues.

--Esther Dominguez

To see an interview with Esther Dominguez: http://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2009/04/16/18589605.php

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