Orbitz: Stop Sending Customers Across the Picket Line!

Workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Chicago have been on strike since June 15. Now, an online travel company called Orbitz is still booking customers into the Congress Hotel – even featuring the Congress on their site! Every customer booked into the Congress prolongs the strike. As part of the customer pressure campaign, Chicago Jobs with Justice led a successful delegation to the Renaissance Hotel, a client on Orbitz's site.

Please write Orbitz to tell them to stop sending customers across the Congress picket line. Feel free to personalize the subject line and body of the letter.

The Congress strikers thank you for your support.

Sample Letter for Campaign

Subject: Orbitz: Stop Sending Customers Across the Picket Line

Dear [ Decision Maker ] ,

I am outraged that your company would insert itself into the Congress Hotel strike by sending customers across the Congress picket line. Every customer you send across the picket line prolongs the strike. This strike not only hurts the working men and women who are trying to feed their families, but it tarnishes the city of Chicago's image as a desirable tourist destination and Orbitz, Inc.'s reputation with its customers.

I urge you to reconsider your company's decision to do business with the Congress Hotel.

Sincerely,

Campaign Launched:
July 31, 2003

Background Information

Workers at the Congress Plaza Hotel and Convention Center in Chicago went on strike on June 15. The contract covering 130 workers expired December 31, 2002. On May 12, management declared impasse in negotiations and implemented their final offer, including a 7% wage cut from wages that were already among the lowest of any major city in the nation. Health care coverage has also been eliminated, as management has refused to pay premiums at the level required by the provider. Congress management has also reserved the right to subcontract out all jobs in the hotel.

Orbitz, an online travel company, is still booking customers into the Congress Hotel – even featuring the Congress on their site! Every customer booked into the Congress prolongs the strike.

When HERE contacted Orbitz, a representative told them they could not pull the Congress off their site because their hotel clients wouldn't like it. By not letting individual consumers know the full picture on their hotels, including the Congress, Orbitz is selling a false product, which is bad for the hospitality industry as a whole. On July 24th, Chicago Jobs with Justice led a delegation of community leaders and striking workers to meet with the management of the Renaissance Hotel, a hotel prominently featured on the Orbitz site. The delegation let Renaissance managment know that the Congress Hotel's presence on the Orbitz site was damaging to other hotels, including the Renaissance. Renaissance management was convinced, and called Orbitz to let them know!

You can also let Orbitz know that customers don't want to be sold a false product. Please call or write Orbitz to tell them to stop sending customers across the Congress picket line. The Congress strikers thank you for your support.