Mario Delmar, a 25-year member at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square tries out the new working conditions at the front desk on October 19, 2016.
Workers across California can finally take a load off, thanks to a recent opinion issued by the state’s Supreme Court that states that if employees can perform their duties while seated, employers must provide seats.
“This has been a long time coming,” said Staff Attorney Representative Susanna Farber. “The Court said that an employer’s preference that work be done while standing is not enough to deny workers a seat.”
Local 856 has long been advocating for this finding on behalf of members working in the customer service industry who spend many hours on their feet behind the front desk.
This month, Teamsters 856 Principal Officer Peter Finn and President Mike Lagomarsino visited members at the Hilton San Francisco Union Square the day the new chairs arrived. “There was absolute jubilation, especially from some of our more senior members,” said Lagomarsino. “They finally have some relief after standing for so many years.”
So far, the San Francisco Hilton Union Square, Parc 55, Sheraton Fisherman’s Wharf, and Clift hotels have provided seats. Lagomarsino and Farber are continuing to work to ensure that the remaining hotels where Local 856 members work are also in compliance.