Page 3 -- (Labor Pains - The Birth of a Contract)

A special committee was then set up to organize the hotels. The key to success was to bring together the many craft unions that had members in the hotel industry - culinary workers, building service workers, electricians, engineers, firemen and other groups. In spite of their long-standing rivalries and jealousies, Rubin and his colleagues were able, in February, 1938, to unite them into the Hotel Trades Council.

Picture of Jay Rubin holding the Childs Restaurant contract.

Picture of the Executive Board of the Hotel Trades Council.

The Hotel Trades Council was able to bring all of the workers in the hotels under one organizational roof, even while the individual craft unions were able to maintain their own identities and important functions. The council became the central organizing, bargaining and contracting agency of all hotel workers. The unique success of this organizational technique was a tribute to the understanding and skill of its leader - Jay Rubin. as a result, many hotel employers became convinced that unionism had come into New York's hotel industry to stay, and on March 23, 1938, the Hotel Association signed a "Status Quo" agreement which recognizing the council as the hotel workers' union.

Leaflet announcing the signing of the first union contract in New York's hotel industry.

The signing of the first union contract on January 18, 1939.

By the end of 1938, the union had organized 50 hotels. The hotel owners were looking to the 1939 World's Fair to bring them out of their long depression, and this made the union's task a little easier. After many difficult negotiating sessions, the union was able, just before the end of the 1938, to issue a leaflet that began with the simple, but exciting news: "It's here!"

The union's ratification meeting enthusiastically approved the terms of the first contract, and within a few weeks, the union was able to announce that the historic first union contract in New York City's hotel industry was ready for signature.

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