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So You're Booking an Event...

Hotels, Low-Wage Working People, and Moral Choices

As institutions, communities of faith require many gatherings to maintain the organization. Often such gatherings are held at levels that are not accommodated by existing property. Many people in the religious community prefer to use facilities that support workers when planning a special event. Whether it’s a church convention or a family wedding, members of the faith community stand with workers in low-wage jobs by honoring union labor.

So, when it comes time to book your next hotel, please consider the following resources:

Choosing these hotels would support union workers.
Choosing these hotels would undercut organizing efforts by workers.

If you are an event planner, you likely negotiate contracts with the hotel. In this case it is important to include what is called “Force Majuere” language.

Basically this concept gives a customer the right to cancel a contract without financial penalty should a labor dispute begin while you are holding your event. In the long term, it provides faith bodies with a standard for doing business that is ethical and supportive of union jobs.

Below is an example of Force Majuere language for Illinois:

If either [Hotel] or [client] is prevented from or delayed in performing any act required of it hereunder and such prevention or delay is caused by disruption due to construction activities, strikes, labor disputes, including boycotts, Acts of God, government restrictions, judicial orders, fire or other casualty, civil commotion, or causes beyond its reasonable control, or if performance hereunder would foreseeably involve either party in or subject it to the effects of a labor dispute and the party therefore withholds or delays performance, it shall have no liability there from. This agreement shall be construed and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.

If you have any questions about event planning or getting involved in the struggle for hotel workers’ justice, please contact Will Tanzman at 773-728-8400 ext. 12.

Click Here to download a plain text version of the Force Majuere language.