Karent Kent, Unite Here Local 1 President, joins the set to talk about the new initiative to wipe out workplace harassment and assault in Chicago’s hospitality industry.
UNITE HERE Local 1 Rings In a New Day for Chicago Hotel Workers As City’s Landmark “Hands Off Pants On” Law Takes Full Effect For Immediate Release Media Contacts: Sarah Lyons [email protected] (312) 385-0603 City officials and labor leaders join Chicago hotel workers to mark the day by which Chicago hotels must provide panic […]
Por ley, los hoteles de la ciudad deben proveer el dispositivo electrónico a trabajadores en el área de limpieza desde el primero de julio. El empleado puede dejar de trabajar y abandonar la zona donde ocurrió el hecho después de activar el botón.
Celebrating what they called a “cultural shift” for women workers’ rights, union activists and city officials gathered Sunday to ring in Chicago’s implementation of an ordinance requiring hotels to provide panic buttons for employees to report harassment.
“Everyone who works in Chicago deserves safe, secure and empowering professional environments in which to do their jobs,” said Mayor Rahm Emanuel. “Those who have been willing to speak out about their experiences, and the countless others who have suffered in silence, deserve not just our respect, but our sustained efforts to prevent, prohibit and punish harassment whenever and wherever it occurs. This ordinance makes it clear that sexual harassment is not just inexcusable and inappropriate, it is illegal.”
Thousands of hotel workers have a new way to protect themselves as a new city ordinance takes effect.
Alderman Michelle Harris joined local union leaders and hotel workers on Sunday to celebrate the ordinance known as “Hands Off – Pants On.”
The ordinance requires all hotels in the city to provide panic buttons for housekeeping staff.
On July 1, 2018, the landmark “Hands Off Pants On” ordinance goes into full effect, requiring Chicago hotels to provide panic buttons to all hotel workers who clean, restock, or take inventory alone in guest rooms and rest rooms. It was the women hospitality workers of UNITE HERE Local 1 who came together, spoke out, and with the support of the Chicago Federation of Labor, won this innovative policy to help address a long-standing problem.
Chicago will become the second city in the country requiring hotels to implement panic buttons on July 1. Seattle was the first city to make such requirements.
The ordinance, called “Hands Off, Pants On,” was passed unanimously in October 2017 by the Chicago City Council. It’s aimed at protecting housekeepers from sexual assault.
“While the panel was assembled months ago, the topic is timely as sexual harassment and so-called “locker room” talk has made headlines recently.
The “Hands Off, Pants On” panel also debuted a new video called “Union Men React to Workplace Harassment and Assault” which shows men reading women’s stories of sexual harassment.
The panel was lead by Justice Anne M. Burke. Sports anchor Julie DiCaro of sister station, 670 The Score, spoke about her experience of online harassment and how a YouTube video #MoreThanMean made a difference.”