4
For more of my music, writing, and organizing, follow at https://www.twitter.com/joeyquits and https://instagram.com/laneve__
Press Inquiries: [email protected]
This is a video about supporting unions and workers' rights.
UPDATE 2017: After a long, long fight, workers at this hotel have finally won the right to organize a union: https://pbn.com/Renaissance-Providence-Hotel-workers-vote-to-join-union,110150/
Press Inquiries: [email protected]
FAQ:
1. Q: Why is your name bleeped out but you have your real name in your username?
A: When we first uploaded it I bleeped my name out and didn't have my real name on anything related to the video. Once it began to get popular, I realized I could do more by attaching my name to it than by hiding from it (see my website/other videos/etc.) Youtube doesn't allow you to reupload videos so the name is bleeped out even though I used my real name online now.
2. Q: What's the backstory?
A: I worked in this hotel for 3.5 years. I worked while going to school full time to pay my tuition and living expenses. This was not a job I had for two weeks before quitting in a fit.
The working conditions in the hotel were horrendous. In the kitchen, workers were regularly forced to work 10, 11, 14, 16 hour shifts that begin at 5:30AM and lasted well into the night. Housekeepers were reprimanded if they failed to clean 16 rooms or more in a 9 hour shift. Anyone who spoke up—especially anyone who is openly pro-union—was disciplined or fired. Managers, like Jared, screamed down employees daily.
I worked extremely hard to change the conditions in the hotel. My co-workers and I organized ourselves to push back against management and demand respect. I was one of many workers who led the fight to organize a formal union at the hotel.
The hotel ran a vicious union-busting campaign. They punished and fired pro-union workers, spread lies in captive-audience meetings, and generally attempted to scare the workers out of joining the union. Still, through being organized and threatening to form a union, we won countless victories, including raises, new uniforms, lower housekeeper room quotas, etc.
When I decide to quit the hotel, I made this video to send one last message to management.
After many years, and the brave continued fight of the workers, the hotel finally recognized the union in 2017. I quit my job in 2011, and the workers who stayed at the hotel and continued fighting are the heroes of this story. Support workers everywhere!
3. Q: What's the song?
A: The song is a version of the Balkan tune "Bubamara," arranged and performed by the band in the video 'What Cheer? Brigade' (which I used to be in)
Video of Joey La Neve DeFrancesco quitting the Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel
Filmed by Jori Ketten, featuring the What Cheer? Brigade
http://www.whatcheerbrigade.com © Copyright 2011 Joey La Neve DeFrancesco
All rights reserved
Contact: [email protected]
best job quit. job quitting. quits job marching band. musical quit. Renaissance Providence Downtown Hotel. what cheer? brigade. downtown boys. unite here. renaissance providence hotel. procaccianti brothers.
You must log in or register to comment.
Love it
Best. Exits. Ever.