Exclusive: Many of the largest talent agencies in New York and Los -Angeles, including such as CAA, WME and UTA, were amazed at Tuesday with a request of agents and their customers to boycott the Surrey Hotel in New York, at least at the moment.
The Council for Trade of Grounds and Games, a trade union, which represents about 40,000 hotel workers and players throughout New York and New Jersey, sent a letter to the ongoing work A dispute with the leadership of Surrey.
In it, HTC asks agents and their customers not only to refrain from booking in Surrey at the moment, but also “think about how your voice, values and visibility can support workers at the moment.”
Read the letter in full below.
The ongoing dispute began in 2020, when, after Surrei was forced to bankrupt, the hotel closed for several years, since he changed possession and transferred reconstruction before opening in 2024 under the control of Corinthia hotels. HTC President Rich Maroko informs Deadline that, in the process, about 100 employees of the trade union hotel lost their work, and they did not offer the opportunity to return to the opening of the hotel.
“We tried to get their list [former] The workers several times, and they simply ignored us, says Maroko. “They decided not to take an interview from anyone and not to hire any of them, but instead they hired a completely new labor force, with the exception of several exceptions.”
Maroko also says that the current staff pay “much less than they receive, if they were combined into the trade union, more than 10 dollars per hour less, without any benefits, protection of work or any of the rest.”
In addition to healthcare and pensions, HTC contracts “provide a middle class living for our members,” says Maroko. While the wages ranges depending on the exact position, collective contract agreements in New York hotels provided more than $ 40 per hour for some positions, including serving characters.
Maroko claims that not only the current actions of Corinthia are unfair, but also against local law. In 2020, New York adopted a law on displaced hotel service workers, which requires the new hotel owners to offer work to employees of the seller’s hotel for at least 90 days after the sale or transfer of ownership.
The deadline understands that HTC also filed a complaint with the National Council for Labor Relations against the Gorgeous Hotel Management. Workers, many of whom seek to save their work, also filed a lawsuit against Surrey.
The call to the agencies is calculated, given the hotel’s reputation as a hot point for A-Listers and other media-figures, as well as a popular space for events. Surrey has long been known that he serves celebrities and other high -profile customers, and night tariffs are about $ 1,000.
“We know that a significant part of their clientele is in entertainment and the media industry, and many of them ultimately go to the hotel, having no idea who these owners, who are the management company, or in the dispute, and we think that if they do it, they will not remain at the hotel, Maroko says. “We really really hope that they will support one hundred or about one hundred workers who find themselves on the street from the hotel actions.”
The deadline turned to Corinthia hotels for comments on this issue. This post will be updated if/when the leadership answers.
Until now, HTC has also planned several personal actions, including a rally outside the hotel with several hundred members of the trade union, as well as some local politicians, such as the candidate for mayor Zoran Mamdani. They also held a rally around Met Gala, as well as other events where hotel management is expected.
Maroko claims that there are more personal actions.
“If you told in detail the stories of some of these employees who are now on the street, this would really break your heart. In some cases, he gave 30 years of his life to this hotel, ”said Maroko. “It’s really heartbreaking that these people who spent decades and decades, working for a hotel and serving guests, and so, so, so great.”
Here is a letter sent to the agency in full:
I turn on behalf of the Council for Hotels and Game Trade Affairs (HTC), a union for hotel and gaming workers in New York and New Jersey. As dear representatives of some of the largest entertainment names, I wanted you to learn about the problem of gross injustice that arises at the Surrey Hotel in New York.
We understand that many of your customers either remained or participated in events in Surrey, and we come to you on behalf of almost 100 former hotel employees who are fighting for the return of our work.
While the Surrey hotel has a huge reputation throughout New York, Behind its facade of the class and elegance, there is an alarming picture of operation.
Prior to its closure in 2020, Surrey has been working as a Union Hotel for decades, with almost 100 trade union workers- many of them, women, immigrants and colored people.
When at the end of 2024 the hotel again opened under the new possession and management, almost all initial employees were not offered their jobs, despite their years of service and the existence of the New York Law – the Law on Distributed Hotel Workers – which requires the hotels to maintain existing personnel after a change in control.
Almost all former Surrey workers were refused the opportunity to return to work.
The wages were reduced. In some departments, such as restaurants in the room, wages were reduced almost in half. Housewives in the property receive more than $ 10 per hour less than their trade union colleagues in New York.
The hotel brought the Mevram subcontract to manage the household. According to subcontracting agencies, they are known for the fact that they force workers to reduce corners, unsanitary conditions, theft of wages and other health and safety problems.
Former Surrey workers united and filed a lawsuit in response. Workers strive to return to their work in Surrey, and we ask your customers to join us in supporting them in their struggle.
We consider this as the moment of the formation and construction of a coalition with a clientele, which allows the Surrey Hotel ProurceThe field we have three simple demands:
1. When you plan trips to New York for your customers, we ask you not to stay at the Surrey hotel and study many Union hotels in New York. For your convenience, you can find a list.
2. We also understand that people or brands that your company represent can already remain at the Surrey hotel or are associated with the Surrey hotel, and we hope that you will consider how your voice, values and visibility can support workers at this moment.
3. Finally, if you have a client who will be interested in expressing support for fair treatment and the right to return to Surray for these workers, we will be happy to talk to you on this issue and send you more information.
We will continue to publicly demonstrate our support for these employees through protests, campaigns on social networks and much more, since for a long time, as is required. If you show your support, we will be there to cheer you up and express our gratitude.
These employees do not ask for special appeal – they ask what the law provides and what are the basic requirements of decency. We believe due to the construction of the coalition, and we hope to work in partnership with you, until the former Surrey workers will not be able to return to their work.
To find out more, please visit http://www.shameonthesurrey.comField
Thank you for finding the time to consider this. Please do not hesitate to handle any questions.
In solidarity,
Rich Morocco
President of the Council for Hotels and Game Trade Affairs, AFL-CIO
