Lane Wallace
Nov 07, 2009 (The Monterey County Herald - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) --

Hospitality workers still have their jobs in the recession, but they're not working as many hours as they used to.

"We had a 16 percent reduction in hours worked" for the 12 months ended Aug. 1, said Leonard O'Neill, chief officer of United Here! Local 483. The union represents 1,500, or about 60 percent, of the workers at full-service hotels in Monterey County.

"We've had virtually no layoffs," said O'Neill, although that will change on Nov. 14, when the closing of Quail Lodge's hotel will put about 90 employees out of work, plus 30-on-call workers. Those numbers could change by next week.

When employees see reduced hours, they are eligible for partial unemployment.

Workers may not have realized they qualify, so the union is encouraging them to find out if they are eligible, O'Neill said. Union members qualify for insurance coverage if they work 100 hours a month.

Even with the benefits, O'Neill said, workers are feeling the effects of the recession.

"Most work two jobs," he said.

"Business in general has been slow," O'Neill said, but there's an anticipation that things will improve in 2010.

"It's not all doom and gloom," said O'Neill, who is in his 32nd year with the union.

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