July 29, 2019 (Nashville). How long does it take for a hotel that charges up to $389 per night to pay the women who clean their rooms? For the downtown Hilton Garden Inn, it took almost 5 months for housekeepers Isabel and Margarita to get the almost $1,000 they say they were owed. 

Margarita and Isabel both worked as housekeepers under subcontractor HotelHelp (manager Jeff Byars) at the Hilton Garden Inn on Korean Veteran’s Blvd. They say the agency paid them with checks that bounced on numerous occasions. After placing phone calls, writing letters, holding meetings with their former employers, and other attempts to negotiate, Margarita and Isabel took to the streets with other workers to demand Hilton and Jeff Byars do the right thing. 

Finally, after fighting since January 2019, they recovered their paychecks. With support from members and community allies, they led a campaign that included letter writing, phone calls, and multiple direct actions demanding that the Hilton Garden Inn hold their subcontractor HotelHelp morally responsible. They won just days after an early morning “Wake Up Call” pot-banging action, sending a message to hotel guests that the community won’t sit quietly in face of exploitation.

Margarita and Isabel faced a common problem, and one that rarely results in victories like theirs. But, as these two workers proved, when we fight together, we win together. We celebrate this victory with Isabel and Margarita today!

“If you support us, this could spark a drastic change against wage theft,” said Margarita, calling for folks to join the movement to put an end to irresponsible contracting and wage theft. Isabel added, “We are doing this action so that our voices are heard because like us, there are many other housekeeping workers who have not been paid and who do not demand their pay due to fear and lack of information.”

Wage theft and irresponsible and unsafe subcontracting run rampant in the hotel and construction industries. But despite seeing only a small fraction of workers who are affected by unjust labor practices, Workers’ Dignity has won back over $150,000 in stolen wages this year. It’s time for a shift in norms in Nashville, time for companies to cut ties with abusive contractors, and time to ensure that all workers are paid for the work they do. To get involved by sharing your time, skills, and/or resources, email info@workersdignity.org.