Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union. Local 9 (San Francisco, Calif.)

Chartered in 1891 by the American Federation of Labor, the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union has represented culinary workers in San Francisco since the turn of the twentieth century. In the 1970s, a series of mergers consolidated the organization of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union in San Francisco. In the early 1970s, Locals 30 and 48, representing San Francisco waiters and waitresses, were merged, forming Local 9. Then, in 1975, all of the affiliated San Francisco locals were merged into the newly chartered Local 2. These locals were: Local 110, representing miscellaneous workers; Local 9, representing waiters and waitresses; Local 41, representing bartenders; Local 44, representing cooks; and Local 283, representing hotel workers.

From the description of Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union records : 1929-1982. (California Historical Society). WorldCat record id: 606929742

History

Chartered in 1891 by the American Federation of Labor, the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union has represented culinary workers in San Francisco since the turn of the twentieth century. The union conducted sporadic labor actions throughout the early part of the century, culminating in the city-wide 1937 hotel strike, which was called after the Hotel Employers' Association refused to recognize the collective bargaining rights of 150 clerical employees. Settled by arbitration after 87 days, the 1937 hotel strike established the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union as a major player in the San Francisco labor movement and represented the beginning of many culinary officials' labor careers. After the five-year contract between the union and the Hotel Employers' Association expired in 1941, another major culinary strike was called over disputed contract terms. This strike was settled by the War Labor Board in 1942.

In the 1970s, a series of mergers consolidated the organization of the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union in San Francisco. In the early 1970s, Locals 30 and 48, representing San Francisco waiters and waitresses, were merged, forming Local 9. Then, in 1975, all of the affiliated San Francisco locals were merged into the newly chartered Local 2. These locals were: Local 110, representing miscellaneous workers; Local 9, representing waiters and waitresses; Local 41, representing bartenders; Local 44, representing cooks; and Local 283, representing hotel workers.

In 1978, a successful strike was called against San Francisco restaurant chain Zim's, resulting in increased wages and other benefits for restaurant workers. This was followed by a major hotel strike in 1980, waged against 36 San Francisco hotels represented by the Hotel Employers' Association, upon the expiration of the hotel workers' five-year contract. After 29 days, the 1980 strike was settled and a new contract ratified. While Local 2 president Charles Lamb claimed victory for the union, the strike and its controversial settlement revealed divisions between union leadership and some rank-and-file members.

From the guide to the Hotel & Restaurant Employees and Bartenders International Union records, 1929-1982, (California Historical Society)