Complaint accuses Culinary Workers Union Local 226 of harassment, retaliation

According to the filing, the worker was a union member who also served as a union organizer and, later, a shop steward. It alleges that a union director held authority and influence over her assignments, committee status and steward activities.

The complaint alleges the conduct began in March 2024. After she missed two days of work with a documented case of pneumonia, the filing says the director asked in front of other staff whether she intended to keep requesting time off, and described her as “unreliable” and “not being a good example.” When she asked about bereavement leave to attend her grandmother’s funeral, the complaint says, he accused her of asking for too many days off.

The worker alleges that after she reported his conduct to union leadership in April 2024, the union ended her organizer assignment early and sent her back to the hotel – months before it was due to end. The complaint characterizes that as retaliation and alleges the union did not investigate her written complaint or discipline the director.

According to the filing, the situation escalated in 2025. It alleges that after a union meeting on July 20, 2025, the director told her he had helped people get promoted after having sex with him. After she was removed as a shop steward on August 5, 2025, the complaint alleges he told her, “Now you need daddy,” and, “You know what you have to do if you want to be back.” The filing further alleges he said, “I can give you a position at the Union or get you back on the committee if you are nice to me. What can you lose? Sleep with me. I have the power to put you back if I want.”

The complaint says the worker reported the harassment to both the union and the hotel’s human resources personnel, and that neither investigated – even though, she alleges, the conduct was occurring on hotel property. The filing also alleges the director made unwelcome comments about her body.