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America’s Rabbis Boycott Hyatt

Apr 2nd, 2012

Jewish leaders nationwide have joined the call to boycott Hyatt. Many of Hyatt’s workers, especially in non-union hotels, are paid minimum wage, have little or no benefits, and work in unsafe conditions. Moved by the stories of Hyatt workers, dozens more rabbis and other leaders have stepped forward in recent weeks to support these workers’ urgent struggle for dignity and respect.

In Boston, Hyatt Hurts! had a table at the Central Conference of American Rabbis (CCAR) Convention from March 18-21, where dozens of conference attendees signed boycott pledges—including Marshall Ganz, historic labor and community organizer, and creator of the grassroots organizing model used by President Obama’s first presidential campaign. Attendees also picked up copies of Open The Gates Of Justice, a clergy report on working conditions at Hyatt hotels.

A week later, rabbis gathered on a conference call with Rabbis for Human Rights-North America, hosted by Rabbi Jill Jacobs, Rabbi Rachel Kahn-Troster, Rabbi Barbara Penzner, and Hyatt worker Jackie White. Participants discussed the Jewish community’s singular role in supporting Hyatt workers’ struggle for economic justice, and pledged to spread the word to their synagogues, schools, and wider communities.

Through their support and advocacy, Rabbis Jacobs, Kahn-Troster, and Penzner have provided spiritual strength to thousands of Hyatt workers, and have brought the call to boycott Hyatt to thousands in the Jewish community.


The call to "Boycott Hyatt" does not include the Hyatt Regency Maui Resort & Spa and the Grand Hyatt Kauai, which have current collective bargaining agreements with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union; The Hyatt Regency Montreal, which has a contract with the Confédération des syndicats nationaux (CSN); the Hyatt Regeny Milwaukee and the Hyatt Regency Cleveland at the Arcade, which have contracts with SEIU; and does not include the following Hyatt hotels with current UNITE HERE collective bargaining agreements: Grand Hyatt New York, Andaz 5th Avenue, Andaz Wall Street, Hyatt Hotel (Highway One Monterey), Hyatt Regency Monterey, Hyatt Penn's Landing (Philadelphia), Hyatt Regency Atlanta, Hyatt Regency Denver at the Colorado Convention Center, Hyatt Regency Mission Bay Spa and Marina, Hyatt Regency on King (Toronto), Park Hyatt Toronto, Hyatt Regency Vancouver, Hyatt Regency Washington on Capitol Hill, Hyatt Rosemont, Hyatt Place San Jose, Hyatt Place Braintree (MA), Hyatt Carmel Highlands Inn, and Hyatt Regency San Francisco Airport, the non-opened Park Hyatts in New York, the non-opened Portland Oregon Convention Center Hyatt Hotel, the Hyatt Regency Long Beach, the Hyatt The Pike Long Beach.

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