Community Research Partners will present “Hotels Shouldn’t Hurt: A Preliminary Report on the Health and Human Rights Crisis in Nashville Hospitality” from 8:30 to 10 a.m. Friday, March 4, at the Meharry-Vanderbilt Alliance, located at 1999 Meharry Blvd.
The Nashville hospitality sector is experiencing tremendous prosperity. However, based on a worker-to-worker survey conducted with housekeepers in 2015, this prosperity is not trickling down. Vanderbilt researchers and Workers’ Dignity found that housekeepers face widespread violations of health and safety standards, unsustainable speedups, and in some instances, physical violence.
Presenters will share initial findings and discuss national research addressing health disparities and proposed solutions to improve housekeepers’ well-being through worker-led structural changes in the hospitality industry, including worker participation in health and safety enforcement, protections for workplace organizing, paid sick days and living wages indexed to the rising cost of living.
Presenters will include Diana Lopez, Workers’ Dignity board member and hotel housekeeper; and Jack Willey, Workers’ Dignity organizer.
A light breakfast will be provided. RSVP to lexie.lipham@vanderbilt.edu.