New York City’s powerful hotel union is gearing up for a potential strike if they don’t get a new contract before the FIFA World Cup, which could throw a massive wrench in the festivities expected to bring in millions of visitors — and revenue — to the Big Apple, The Post has learned.
The Hotel Trade Council has already launched its own website — fifahotelstrike.org — in case no new deal is struck before its contract expires smack dab in the middle of the weeks-long tournament, offering visitors the option to search for strike-safe hotels or pledge their support for hotel workers.
The union is also planning a rally on Friday with city elected officials to push for the increased contract as the City Council is slated to hold its first hearing on plans to host the global soccer competition.
Hotel Association of New York City President and CEO Vijay Dandapani raged that the union was holding the city hostage despite having an already cushy deal.
“It is extremely premature for the union to threaten a strike during the World Cup and put a huge economic opportunity for hotel workers and the city at risk,” Dandapani said. “In fact, the union’s own president has called our current contract the ‘gold standard’ for its members.”
Under the union’s current contract, a housekeeper makes $39.87 per hour as well as healthcare benefits and a pension.
The existing contract, covering over 27,000 workers across over 250 properties, is set to expire July 1 — right in the middle of the June 11 to July 19 tournament.
The soccer matches are estimated to bring over $3 billion in economic activity to both New York and New Jersey, which are co-hosting the games at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford.
Rich Maroko, the union president, insisted that HTC does not want to go on strike.
“Our goal is to make sure our members are fairly compensated with the strong wages and benefits they deserve,” he said.
“We encourage visitors to come to our city and enjoy the games, and to use this website as a resource to stay informed about the labor status of their hotels in the coming months,” Maroko said, referring to the website.
The website was launched so that tourists could register for updates on the labor status of their hotels during the matches.
The New York City Council’s Economic Development Committee will be holding an oversight meeting for World Cup preparations on Friday, with members of the union testifying and holding a rally at City Hall prior to the hearing.
Neither the mayor nor the council responded to a request for comment.