Professional Documents
Culture Documents
To:
Subject:
Date:
Attachments:
Sima Patel
Kalb, Dan; Guillen, Abel; McElhaney, Lynette; Campbell Washington, Annie; Gallo, Noel; Brooks, Desley; Reid,
Larry; At Large
Response to the allegations made by Unite Here Local 2850
Sunday, October 11, 2015 5:49:22 PM
Letter to City Council 10.7.15.pdf
Thank you.
Sima Patel
510-301-4887
Oakland , CA
Dear
Honorable
Members
of
Oakland
City
Council,
As
you
are
well
aware
representatives
of
Unite
Here
Local
2850
made
comments
regarding
our
company
during
the
September
30th
special
council
meeting.
They
alleged
that
our
company
was
not
in
compliance
with
Oaklands
minimum
wage
law
and
alleged
that
we
violated
unknown
worker
rights,
based
on
an
anonymous
complaint
by
an
alleged
employee.
While
we
remain
uncertain
what
we
are
specifically
being
accused
of
doing
that
is
wrong,
we
deny
these
general
allegations.
Of
course,
we
are
actively
working
with
the
City
to
fully
investigate
this
matter.
As
some
of
you
may
be
aware,
we
are
in
the
process
of
seeking
entitlements
on
a
new
hotel.
Unite
Here
wants
to
unionize
that
project.
They
asked
us
to
sign
a
document
which
would
essentially
make
it
impossible
for
us
to
fully
discuss
our
view
on
unionization
with
our
workforce.
We
refused
and
now
the
union
is
trying
to
smear
our
good
names
in
the
hopes
of
transforming
a
land
use
issue
into
a
labor
issue.
We
met
with
union
representatives
at
the
urging
of
the
Mayor.
While
we
will
not
sign
away
our
rights
to
discuss
such
an
important
issue
with
our
employees
once
the
hotel
is
built
and
the
union
attempts
to
organize
our
workforce,
we
stated
that
we
will
take
no
action
that
interferes
with
lawful
efforts
to
unionize
our
employees.
Apparently,
that
was
not
good
enough
for
Unite
Here.
They
are
now
running
a
smear
campaign
aimed
at
getting
to
somehow
force
us
to
agree
to
unionization.
As
stated
above,
we
believe
that
we
have
been
in
full
compliance
with
the
Oakland
Minimum
Wage
Ordinance
since
it
was
adopted.
The
anonymous
complaint
filed
with
the
City
of
Oakland
is
currently
being
investigated
and
we
are
fully
cooperating
with
the
Citys
Contract
Compliance
Department.
City
staff
interviewed
our
employees
and
we
are
in
the
process
of
providing
additional
supporting
documentation
pursuant
to
their
request.
We
are
confident
the
Department
will
find
no
wrongdoing
or
ill
intent
when
the
investigation
concludes.
Not
only
did
we
take
all
actions
we
understood
to
be
required
to
be
fully
compliant
with
Oaklands
ordinance,
we
went
a
step
further.
Although
not
required
by
any
law,
we
made
the
wages
enjoyed
by
our
Oakland
employees
also
available
to
our
employees
in
Alameda.
We
did
so
because
we
believe
in
parity
and
fairness
for
all
team
members.
The
Holiday
Inn
Express
opened
its
doors
in
1999.
During
the
last
16
years
we
do
not
believe
we
have
ever
had
a
claim
filed
with
any
local,
state,
or
federal
regulatory
agency.
We
have
a
long
track
record
of
great
relations
with
our
employees,
some
of
Oakland , CA
whom
have
worked
for
our
company
since
the
hotel
opened
in
1999.
This
minimum
wage
complaint
is
the
first
of
its
kind
of
which
we
are
aware.
We
have
always
strived
to
provide
our
employees
with
a
positive
workplace.
Our
company
philosophy
stems
from
having
happy
employees,
as
happy
employees
translates
to
happy
guests.
Our
hotels
are
consistently
ranked
at
the
top
in
terms
of
guest
service
and
satisfaction.
It
is
impossible
to
be
successful
in
this
business
for
over
16
years
if
you
dont
take
care
of
your
people.
Unfortunately,
special
interest
groups
often
pursue
other
agendas
when
they
make
complaints
and
sometimes
make
claims
that
have
no
basis
in
fact.
As
an
Oakland
based
company
with
a
long
history
that
strives
for
excellence
and
treats
each
and
every
employee
with
respect,
we
are
disappointed
and
disheartened
at
the
lengths
to
which
this
group
will
apparently
go
to
advance
and
promote
their
agenda.
Our
goal
is
to
bring
another,
much
needed,
hotel
to
Oakland
that
will
create
new
jobs,
badly
needed
new
hotel
rooms,
and
significant
transit
occupancy
tax
revenue,
and
which
will
also
provide
great
benefit
to
the
citizens
and
business
communities
in
Oakland.
We
have
worked
with
many
of
you
over
the
years
and
you
know
our
dedication
to
our
great
city.
For
Council
Members
who
have
not
had
a
decades
long
interaction
with
us,
we
welcome
the
opportunity
to
meet
with
you
to
answer
any
questions
you
may
have.
Please
let
me
know
if
you
would
like
to
meet
with
us.
Sincerely,
Sima
Patel
510-301-4887
2260504.1