On May 1, International Workers Day, over 250 protestors from various working class organizations marched on City Hall to call for the end of police harassments, racial profiling, and ICE raids. The people representing these organizations are immigrants and workers demanding that the city of New Orleans improve their working conditions in the hospitality industry, and better pay. They also demanded that the city pass the Workweek Ordinance, written by the Hospitality Workers Committee. The spirit of May Day is used to build unity among working class and oppressed communities in New Orleans.
Hospitality Workers Committee Fights for Medical Coverage – Wins!
By Margaret Maloney
On May 15th, The New Orleans Hospitality Workers Committee shook up the Tourism & Marketing Board Corporation meeting. The Tourism & Marketing Board Corporation is an unelected board that gets over 140 million dollars of the tax payers money to play with. This money completely bypasses the general budget without the people’s consent. Several members of The New Orleans Hospitality Workers Committee gave statements demanding that
the Tourism Corporation return the people’s money by building a FREE FULL-SERVICE medical clinic for hospitality workers & paying ALL Laura’s medical bills. Laura, a career Hospitality worker, is critically ill because of a lack of insurance. The committee demanded that the Tourism Corporation give them an answer to their demands in ten days.
The NOHWC then opened a banner and chanted “Tax money for Worker’s needs, Not Tax Money For Corporate Greed!”. And “We are the Ones Who Make Your Profit, We are Dying When You Can Stop It”.
Local Workers Strike Back Against Sexual Harassment
On February 23, 2018, the New Orleans Hospitality Workers Committee (NOHWC) held a March to End Sexual Harassment and Discrimination in the Workplace. Starting at Congo Square, the NOHWC along with 50 workers marched down Decatur, taking over the street all the way to Bamboula’s. This action was organized on behalf of a committee member who used to work at Bamboula’s, where a manager sexually assaulted her on several occasions. When she confided in her General Manager about the continued harassment, no action was taken and the harasser was allowed to remain employed at Bamboula’s.
NOHWC marched on the establishment. At Bamboula’s, committee members went inside to deliver a set of demands that will be continuously delivered until they are met. Bamboula’s responded to the action by closing their own door. Almost all guests left the bar. However, management did not accept the demands.
This is only the beginning of a campaign to end sexual harassment and racism in all New Orleans workplaces. Please keep in touch with NOHWC and upcoming actions either on Facebook at NOHWC or online at www.nowhc.org. United and organized, the 88,000+ hospitality workers of this city have the power to demand our rights.
Here are our Demands:
- Bamboula’s will no longer foster a culture of sexist or racist harassment.
- Terminate the manager, Jim, in a timely fashion for the sexual assault of workers.
- Terminate the General Manager, Jen, in a timely fashion for supporting sexual harassment in the workplace.
- Post the Rules and Regulations provided by NOHWC where customers and employees can easily read.
As the march went through the Quarter, many workers came out of their workplaces to applaud, raise a fist of solidarity, and show support for their fellow workers.