Hotel Worker Emily Tang Speaks Out Against Gag Order

Metropolitan worker, Emily Tang, has been informed by Hotel management that she will be fired if she continues to make public criticisms of her employer.

Last night, Emily introduced a screening of the film 'Bread and Roses'. It is fitting that a film about a struggle by immigrant workers should have been the backdrop for Emily's stand for free speech and workers' rights.

If management carries out its threat and tries to intimidate the workers at the Hotel by targeting Emily, we will be calling for your support for immediate action. Please keep checking this website for updates.

MY NAME IS EMILY TANG AND I WORK AT THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL. I AM PART OF THE RANK AND FILE HOTEL WORKERS COMMITTEE THAT HAS BEEN FORMED THERE.

WE ARE ABOUT TO SEE A FILM THAT DEALS WITH A STRUGGLE BY IMMIGRANT WORKERS FOR JUSTICE. BECAUSE OF THAT, I WANT TO MAKE A STATEMENT ABOUT THE STRUGGLE OF IMMIGRANT HOTEL WORKERS HERE IN TORONTO AND SOME VERY IMPORTANT ISSUES THAT ARE CONNECTED TO IT.

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE METROPOLITAN HAS CHOSEN TO TRY AND SILENCE ME AS A MEMBER OF THE COMMITTEE. I HAVE BEEN CALLED INTO A MEETING AND HANDED A LETTER THAT MAKES CLEAR THAT ANY PUBLIC CRITICISMS OF THE HOTEL WILL MEAN MY IMMEDIATE FIRING. I HAVE DISCUSSED THIS WITH OTHER MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE AND SUPPORTERS AND I HAVE DECIDED THAT I CAN’T ACCEPT SUCH A GAG ORDER. IF I WERE TO PUT UP WITH THIS TREATMENT, NO HOTEL WORKER AT THE METROPOLITAN COULD EVER SPEAK IN PUBLIC OR BE OPENLY CONNECTED TO THE COMMITTEE WITHOUT THE RISK OF LOSING HIS OR HER JOB.

I REPEAT HERE TO DAY THAT THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL IS A FIVE STAR SWEATSHOP. IT ABUSES ITS WORKERS AND I WON’T BE SILENT AS LONG AS THIS GOES ON. I DEMAND JUSTICE FOR SHAHID, A MUSLIM WORKER WHO WAS HOUNDED FROM HIS JOB BY HOTEL SECURITY WHILE HIS UNION DIDN’T LIFT A FINGER TO HELP HIM.

I DEMAND JUSTICE FOR THE HOUSEKEEPING WORKERS WHO HAVE HAD THEIR BODIES BURNED BY THE CLEANING CHEMICAL THEY ARE FORCED TO WORK WITH. I DEMAND JUSTICE FOR ALL THE INJURED WORKERS WHO ARE DENIED PROPER TREATMENT AND I STAND UP FOR ALL THE WORKERS WHO HAVE NOT BEEN GIVEN THE BREAKS THE LAW IS SUPPOSED TO PROVIDE THEM WITH.

BOTH THE UNION LEADERS AND THE MANAGEMENT SAY THAT WE ARE MAKING UP LIES. IS IT A LIE THAT PEDRO VANEGAS WAS DISCIPLINED FOR SPEAKING SPANISH IN THE KITCHEN TO A CO WORKER? IS IT A LIE THAT A SUPERVISOR STOOD OVER STEWARDING WORKERS WHILE THEY TOOK THE BREAKS THEY WERE ENTITLED TO AND STOOD AT THE DOOR OF THE WASHROOM WHEN THEY WENT IN THERE? IS IT A LIE THAT, WHEN THEY WENT TO THEIR UNION REP, CORNETTA MASON, ABOUT THIS, SHE TOLD THEM MANAGEMENT COULD STAND WHEREVER THEY WANTED AND SHE WOULD NOT HELP?

THE MANGEMENT OF THE HOTEL IS OUT TO SILENCE THOSE WHO ARE RESISTING THE ABUSES AND THE LEADERSHIP OF THE UNION HAS BECOME THEIR ASSISTANT IN THIS. THIS SAME REP, CORNETTA MASON, IS NOW GOING AROUND THE HOTEL DEMANDING OF WORKERS THAT THEY TELL HER WHO IS INVOLVED WITH OCAP. IN THIS SITUATION, I REFUSE TO BE SILENT.

I HAVE A RIGHT TO FREE SPEECH AND I HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND THAT MY UNION DEFEND THAT RIGHT EVEN IF I AM SAYING THINGS THE LEADERSHIP MAY NOT WELCOME. I THINK I ALSO HAVE A RIGHT TO DEMAND OF PEOPLE IN OTHER UNIONS AND IN THE COMMUNITY THAT THEY STAND WITH ME IF I AM VICTIMIZED. THIS SPEECH IS GOING TO BE POSTED ON THE HOTEL WORKERS WEBSITE. I INVITE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO PRINT IT IN THEIR OWN MAGAZINES TO DO SO.

THE METROPOLITAN HOTEL WORKERS COMMITTEE IS TAKING A STAND AGAINST THE EXPLOITATION AND ABUSE OF IMMIGRANT WORKERS. IN TRYING TO SILENCE ME, THEY ARE TRYING TO INTIMIDATE AND DEFEAT OUR COMMITTEE AND TO ENSURE IMMIGRANT WORKERS HAVE NO VOICE AND NO RIGHTS. WHEN THEY READ THIS SPEECH, THEY MAY ACT AGAINST ME. IF THEY DO, OUR RESPONSE WILL BE TO DOUBLE AND TREBLE THE SIZE OF OUR CAMPAIGN FOR JUSTICE AT THE METROPOLITAN.

WE WILL BE ASKING FOR YOUR HELP IN THE WEEKS AHEAD AND I HOPE YOU WILL STAND WITH US.