CHICAGO - July 23 - Interfaith Worker Justice pledges its support to the Hyatt Global Boycott and is working to get faith communities to do the same.

Faith communities hold many meetings. Women’s groups, men’s groups, social justice groups, youth groups, pension and financial planning groups, church planting groups, musician and cantor groups, congregational events and retreats and dozens of other groups meet in hotels and conference centers. Meetings are often planned and booked many years in advance.

"Faith communities want our money to align with our values, which is why Interfaith Worker Justice supports the Hyatt Global Boycott," explained Kim Bobo, Executive Director of Interfaith Worker Justice. Bobo joined other national leaders in announcing the global boycott.

The national Board of Directors and staff of Interfaith Worker Justice have met with and supported Hyatt workers in cities across the nation. They have led delegations to meet with hotel managers, organized prayer vigils inside and outside hotels, organized faith leaders to honor boycotts, and helped religious decision-makers insert language into hotel contracts allowing them to honor boycotts and picket lines.

"Hyatt is a profitable global hotel chain that can afford to pay its workers fairly, set reasonable workloads for housekeepers, and allow its workers to organize," Bobo continued.

Interfaith Worker Justice is particularly concerned about Hyatt’s practice of hiring and using perma-temps as a means of reneging on its responsibilities as an employer. Perma-temps are workers hired by "temporary" staffing agencies who may work for many years at Hyatt Hotels earning minimum wage or just above with virtually no benefits.