The Wharton School of Business vs. SF Hotel WorkersMarc Nortonbyline‚ Jun. 26‚ 2009At first blush, the Wharton School, based at the Ivy League University of Pennsylvania, does not seem likely to be a factor in San Francisco politics. But Wharton, founded in 1881, billing itself as the "world's first collegiate business school," also has an outpost in our City by the Bay. Located "near the heart of San Francisco's business district" in the historic Folger Building at 101 Howard, Wharton San Francisco "extends the reach of the School's programs... to the western U.S. and Pacific rim countries" for students aiming at careers as business executives. Wharton San Francisco also frequently breaks the worker-called boycott of the HEI Le Meridien hotel, where they regularly book large blocks of rooms for their budding executives. Just over a year ago, a brave and determined group of workers at the luxury hotel launched an organizing campaign, seeking a fair process that will allow employees to freely and democratically decide -- without interference from management -- if they want to affiliate with UNITE HERE Local 2. Stonewalled by management for months in their quest for some semblance of economic justice, the workers and the union called for a boycott of the hotel, starting last February. |