The Washington State Rehabilitation Council works with the state’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation in order to support people with disabilities who are looking for jobs. The council is funded by federal and state dollars.
This week, the council cancelled a regular meeting at the Grand Hyatt Seattle scheduled for October.
Why should you care?
Well, under pressure by UNITE HERE Local 8 (local hospitality workers) and Jay Inslee, the Washington State Rehabilitation Council cancelled its contract with the hotel.
You see, for a few years now, UNITE HERE Local 8 has been boycotting the two Seattle Hyatt hotels after it accused the owner (R.C. Hedreen Co) of trying to stop organizing efforts.
It all started when the union tried and failed to intimidate R.C. Hedreen Co to unionize a new hotel — a 1,264-room, $400 million building — under construction.
The withdrawal of the contract (a dozen hotel rooms for two nights and a meeting space) cost taxpayers an unfortunate $4,278 in cancellation fees. Via the Seattle Times:
In emails obtained by The Seattle Times, Levi Pine, the union’s boycott organizer, called on the council to drop its booking with the hotel.
Council Chairwoman Jana Finkbonner initially declined the union’s request. Responding to Pine, she wrote that the Grand Hyatt Seattle “has a long history of training and employing people with disabilities.”
But later, Gov. Jay Inslee intervened, and the council’s executive director nixed the meeting.
“We reminded them [the council] that when there’s a labor dispute, agencies need to find another venue for their event,” said Jaime Smith, spokeswoman for the governor, who called it a long-standing practice.
Just to be clear, the “long-standing practice” cited is not a state law as Inslee’s staff made it sound. It’s just something Democrats who cater to special interests do — this time around it cost taxpayers an unnecessary $4,278.
All so Inslee can pay back unions who support his campaign with taxpayer dollars.
Democrats like Inslee may not think $4,278 is a lot in the grand scheme of state spending. But, it’s exactly that kind of unnecessary government waste at the expense of taxpayers that keeps compounding existing spending problems.
Typical…make up something that sounds like it’s a law…otherwise known as intimidation….