Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Rhode Island Convention Center Authority filed a federal lawsuit against the city this week contesting a recently passed city ordinance requiring that the convention center, the Dunkin' Donuts Center, the Veterans Memorial Auditorium, and three downtown hotels to retain employees for up to six months following a change in management.

The complaint was received by U.S. District Court for Rhode Island on Wednesday, according to Kim Keough, the convention center's public relations director.

"There is a whole-host of issues with this ordinance, beginning with the three facilities (Dunkin' Donuts Center, Rhode Island Convention Center and Veterans Memorial Auditorium) it affects," David A. Duffy, the Convention Center chairman, said in a statement. "These facilities are state-owned and we don't believe the [Providence City] Council has the authority to create an ordinance that would legally-bind the operation of state-owned properties as this would."

The "Hospitality Business Protection and Worker Retention" ordinance came in response to concerns by workers at the Westin Providence hotel, represented by Local 217 of Unite Here, who anticipated layoffs in September as the Cranston-based Procaccianti Group sought to outsource certain services, including valet, laundry and kitchen staff.

It was introduced by City Councilor Michael A. Solomon on Sept. 3.

The ordinance affects hotel and food service employees who work at least 10 hours per week and earn less than $60,000 a year within the "Convention Center District."

According to Solomon, that includes the Westin, Renaissance and Hilton hotels and the convention-center complex, although the Renaissance hotel disputes that it falls within the district.

Over the protests of the hotels and convention center authority, the council approved the measure Oct. 15, and it went into effect Oct. 26 without Mayor David N. Cicilline's signature.

 Tags  economy hotels Providence RI RI Convention Center

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