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Just days after the latest breakdown of contract negotiations between the Claremont Resort and Spa and Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Local 2850, about 30 union supporters picketed outside the exclusive Tunnel Road hotel early Tuesday morning. 

“Claremont, Claremont, you’re no good, treat your workers like you should,” the protesters chanted, as passing drivers honked their horns in support. 

The union and management, who have been locked in a contract dispute since last summer, failed to reach an agreement during extensive bargaining sessions Thursday and Friday, their first talks since Dec. 14. 

“We are still a far ways off from a settlement,” said Stephanie Ruby, the secretary-treasurer of the union, which represents a wide range of workers, from culinary staff to housekeepers. 

Ruby said there are three main points of contention: health care, wages and the union’s desire to recruit 160 non-unionized spa workers.  

Employees currently receive free health insurance, Ruby said, but under the latest Claremont proposal for a three-year contract, they would be required to pay up to $200 per month for individual coverage and $300 for family coverage. 

Wages are also at issue. The union, which previously asked for a $1.50 an hour raise every year, for the next three years, reduced that figure to $1.30 last week.  

But, according to Ruby, management is offering some employees raises of two-and-a-half cents per hour. 

“With the economy of the Bay Area and increased rent costs, people need more than a two-cent raise,” she said. 

Finally, the union is asking for a “right to organize” clause in the new agreement, allowing it to go after the spa employees. 

If the clause were included in the contract, Ruby said, the spa workers could join Local 2850 if a majority signed union authorization cards. 

Claremont marketing director Denise Chapman said management would prefer the union to call for a standard vote on the issue. Under this arrangement, spa workers would decide whether to join the union by secret ballot. 

“We’re strongly protecting our spa employees’ right to vote,” said Claremont marketing director Denise Chapman, arguing that the out-in-the-open, card-signing approach preferred by the union would unfairly expose spa employees who oppose unionization. 

“That’s very disrespectful of any spa employee with a different point of view,” she said. 

Ruby acknowledged that the authorization card model would allow Local 2850 to better control the unionization campaign. But, she said workers can be trusted to make their own decisions.  

“When any worker signs a union authorization card and the worker is an adult, I think we should treat them as adults and respect them as adults,” Ruby said.  

Chapman said it would be inappropriate to discuss specific health care and salary proposals in the midst of negotiations, and would not confirm the numbers provided by Ruby. But she said the hotel has been negotiating in good faith. 

“At our Dec. 14 meeting, we put forth what we thought was a fair and comprehensive offer,” said Chapman. 

“I don’t know how you can call it fair when you stick people with a two-penny raise,” Ruby responded.  

Chapman said the hotel asked the union to return to the negotiating table 12 times after Dec. 14, before Local 2850 finally agreed to last week’s session. 

“We’re pleased that the negotiations are back on track,” she said during the Tuesday protest. “We’re a bit disappointed to see union representatives focusing on a media stunt rather than negotiations.” 

“The workers are here because they’re saying enough is enough,” Ruby responded, at the 6:30 a.m. picket. “People would prefer to be sleeping in bed, but they’re fighting for their families.”