The SF State Chapter of the California Faculty Association (CFA) has decided to cease doing business with San Francisco hotels that have locked out their workers.

The union members working at the Agent Hotel, Hilton San Francisco, Crowne Plaza Union Square and Mark Hopkins Inter-Continental began their strike on Sep. 27 because of negotiation with the hotels about wages, benefits, healthcare and the length of contracts broke down.

In response, 10 other hotels including Four Seasons, Fairmont and Grand Hyatt Union Square decided to lock out their workers. All the workers in the 14 hotels are members of Unite Here Local 2, a democratic union of hospitality management workers in San Francisco and San Mateo counties, which organized the strike.

Even though Mayor Gavin Newsom asked on Oct. 26 for the 14 hotels to accept a 90-day cooling-off period, the hotels refused to end the lockout.

SF State uses these hotels to put up guests like presidents or vice presidents of other schools. San Francisco Labor Councils asked members of CFA and the California School Employees Association (CSEA) not to support the hotels, according to Mitch Turitz, president of the SF State chapter of CFA.

At the CFA meeting held on Nov. 9, members resolved that CFA will stop doing business with the hotels until the strike is solved, will ask faculty members of other CSU schools and all CFA members to cancel reservations and not to utilize the hotels, and will also ask the hotel managers and the hotel companies to end the lockout of their workers and to find a solution. Members of CFA will discourage private and public agencies from supporting the hotels, according to the CFA final draft.

“We show solidarity to the union,” said Turitz. “ We try to help them as much as we can.”

Since CFA members decided to cease business with the hotels, SF State will provide its guests with other accommodations.

Unite Here Local 2 praises the position CFA sides with the workers.

“I think SF State is doing a right thing,” said Ian Lewis, research analyst of Unite Here Local 2.

Lewis thinks that CFA’s decision will be a “strong” message to the hotels and impact on the hotels financially.

On the other hand, John Simonich, general manager of Crowne Plaza Union Square, one of the 14 hotels, thinks the decision is unfortunate.

“I think San Francisco State University should learn more about the situation,” said Simonich. “What do they know about it (lock-out)? They should know the reasons behind it.”

So far, no solution has been made to end the strike and lockout.

The CFA decision will not affect the hospitality management department because the department does not utilize them, according to David Jones, a hospitality management lecture.

The decision made at the CFA meeting will be sent to Robert Corrigan, the president of SF State, and SF State Academic Senate as well as other CSU presidents, academic senates and the CFA members. The decision will be also notified to the hotels and Unite Here Local 2.