Update on Conference Hotel Labor Dispute

The California Society of Addiction Medicine is committed to conducting its CME course in facilities that meet the needs of course attendees, including quality and location of the facilities as well as budget parameters.

To meet these needs, CSAM typically signs contracts for course venues years in advance as was done with the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco. The Hyatt Regency Embarcadero, along with other Hyatt properties is currently involved in a labor dispute with their employees’ union, Unite Here! Local 2 and the union is boycotting these hotels.  Union representatives recently asked CSAM move the Addiction Medicine Review Course to other venues.

The CSAM Executive Council has carefully reviewed the factors involved  – including the cost to relocate, the availability of suitable alternative venues, and the cost to attendees who have already made plans — and decided that relocation is not feasible. 

CSAM has a contract with the Hyatt Regency, which includes a cancelation clause.  If CSAM were to cancel its contract with the Hyatt Regency, the cost of contract cancelation would be more than $100,000 .  This does not include additional costs that would be incurred such as the cost of booking new venues, the travel costs of participants who would have to either cancel or reschedule their trip to San Francisco, and other related costs.

CSAM respects that many people feel strongly about labor disputes, and we are sensitive to the fact that people will be attending the Review Course at a hotels that is on a boycott list.  CSAM will make every effort not to book future events at facilities that are being boycotted by labor organizations.

It has also come to our attention that union organizers have disrupted the clinics of a number of CSAM physicians and passed out flyers, targeting individual CSAM members and containing numerous inaccuracies, as well as engaged in other forms harassment.  While we understand the passion of the union, it is unfortunate that they have chosen to disturb the treatment of patients and hound CSAM leaders and members.    

Background on the San Francisco Labor Dispute between Hotels and Unite HERE! Local 2

Contracts between Local 2 and several San Francisco hotels expired in August 2009.  Beginning in March 2011, most hotels reached agreement with Local 2 and signed new contracts.  The Hyatt Regency Embarcadero have not yet reached a contract agreement with Local 2 and are on the union’s boycott list.

For information about Local 2’s position, visit this website.

For information about the hotels’ position, visit this website.