October 19, 2009
Dear Affiliates Unions and Friends of Labor,
The Greater Southeastern Massachusetts Central Labor Council in solidarity with the Southeastern Massachusetts Building Trades Council (SEMBTC) is asking as a show of solidarity that you refrain from doing business with the Lafrance Hospitality Company (LHC) through any of their affiliated businesses henceforth including:
- White’s of Westport
- Rachel’s Lakeside
- Bittersweet Farm
- Christian’s Catering
- Hampton Inn of Westport, Fairhaven and Franklin, MA
- Hampton Inn & Suites of Plymouth, MA
- Comfort Inn & Suites of Dover, NH and Wilton, ME
Over one year ago when it was announced a new Fairfield Marriot Hotel on New Bedford’s waterfront was to become a reality, the SEMBTC started a dialogue with the project’s owner, the LHC, and was assured there would be a fair and transparent bidding process for the project that would make certain community standards be met regarding wages and benefits for all employees building the hotel.
Sadly, the bidding process was anything but fair and transparent. When local government representatives arranged a meeting between the SEMBTC and LHC on May 26, 2009, no one from the LHC showed up. They were apparently too busy and instead sent their General Contractor. As of the writing of this letter, the project is well underway with all or most of the work being performed by contractors that pay nothing more than sub-standard wages and benefits.
The SEMBTC understands that in a down economy, construction pricing is lower than normal due to increased competition. However, the LHC needs to understand that working families are struggling more than ever as a result of this economy and depend on fair wages and benefits not just to survive, but to allow them the luxury of being able to spend an occasional night out or weekend in one of the very establishments LHC owns.
The lack of cooperation and unwillingness to work with the SEMBTC by the LHC and its general contractor, Bufftree Building Co. of New Bedford, has without a doubt led us to this “campaign”. The hard working members of the SEMBTC thank you for support.
In solidarity,