Councilor Flynn Files Resolution in Support of Revere Hotel Workers & Statewide “Right to Recall”

BOSTON – Boston City Councilor Ed Flynn is filing a resolution at this week’s Council meeting to support Revere Hotel workers, many of whom are being laid off with little severance after decades of service. Moreover, Councilor Flynn is calling for statewide “Right to Recall” legislation that would allow for workers to be recalled to their job within a two year period of being laid off. This is the third resolution that Councilor Flynn has filed in support of hotel workers being laid off, the first one being in June in support of the Four Seasons Hotel workers, and the second one in November for Marriott Copley Place workers.

Last week, it was reported that the Revere Hotel would permanently lay off more than 100 furloughed employees, offering little severance for decades of service in some instances. The hospitality industry is the third largest in the city, which employs tens of thousands of local residents. These hospitality jobs provide good pay, benefits, and a path to the middle class for many Black and Brown Boston hotel workers, including immigrants and women. These jobs have allowed many residents to achieve first generational wealth, buy a home, raise a family, and stay in the city. The Revere Hotel layoffs came after the Four Seasons Hotel layoffs back in May, and the Marriott Copley Place layoffs in November. These hotel layoffs are likely to happen again in the months to come and, without government intervention, COVID-19 could potentially be used as a reason for employers to enact a massive campaign of dislocation of black and brown residents from their jobs.

In the fight for racial justice, there must be a pathway for secure jobs and wealth creation for our communities of color. This resolution offers support for the Revere Hotel workers in their demand for a better severance package, as well as calling for a statewide “Right to Recall” legislation that would allow employees to be recalled to their jobs within two years of being laid off when new positions are available.

“During this Christmas and holiday season, it is especially disheartening to learn that the Revere Hotel has laid off its furloughed workers amidst this difficult time for so many of our working families in our city, many of whom are black, brown, immigrants and women with decades of service to the company,” said Councilor Flynn. “Our hotel workers are an indispensable part of Boston’s economy, and I’m proud to stand with them. We need to ensure these good hospitality jobs continue to provide a path to the middle class, and it is critical that we also continue to advocate for a’ Right to Recall’ for our workers. I want to thank UNITE HERE Local 26 and the Asian Pacific American Labor Alliance for their work to support our hotel workers, and I look forward to working together on this issue.”

For more information, please contact Councilor Flynn’s office at 617-635-3203 and  [email protected].