A range of stars, including Cardi B and Tom Cruise, who’s currently at a hotel in upscale Manhattan, are set to encounter a significant protest prior to the red carpet event on Monday, according to union representatives.
Members of the Hotel Trade Council plan to demonstrate outside the Surrey Hotel, where numerous celebrities attending the notable Met Museum gala are staying, just off East 76th Street.
The Surrey shut its doors during the pandemic in 2020, declared bankruptcy, and then reopened last October under new management by Corinthia Hotels, a global investment firm from London, Geneva, and Milan.
However, when it reopened, about 100 workers who lost their jobs during the hotel’s closure were not hired back by the new management.
Those affected have filed a lawsuit against the new owners, claiming that failing to rehire them breaches a law put in place during the pandemic aimed at protecting workers during ownership changes. This case is still ongoing.
Among those staying at the Surrey during the gala are Cardi B, Tom Cruise, Alicia Keys, Shakira, Cristiano Ronaldo, and several prominent executives from Burberry, Valentino, and Stella McCartney, as noted by the HTC.
The union stated it has reached out to each celebrity’s team, urging them to support the displaced employees. Labor activists intend to make another appeal to the stars early on Monday.
Former workers, along with the union, are pushing for celebrities to “step off the red carpet and stand with us,” demanding that the Surrey staff be rehired.
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Mary Coronado, who has worked as the hotel room manager since 2010, expressed her desire to see the celebrities. “As a single mother, my job at Surrey meant everything to me,” she shared in a statement. “This job helped support my two daughters, allowed us to live comfortably, and even helped me buy a car.”
“When I lost this job, it was devastating. I struggled just to make ends meet,” Coronado added. “I’m fighting for my job back so I can rebuild my family’s life.”
Donna McCummon, who was a longtime staff member prior to the layoffs, reflected on her experience: “Losing my job at Surrey has been one of the hardest challenges I’ve faced. I was the main provider for my family, and without a steady income, things became very tough.” She highlighted how she had been forced to take on multiple overnight shifts to survive after the layoffs.
Rich Maloko, president of HTC, commented that the former Surrey employees were “unfairly abandoned” by the new management of the hotel.
“We’re asking the celebrities at Surrey to support our cause: to help bring back the workers,” Maloko stated.
No immediate response has come from representatives of Sally.
The theme for the upcoming Met Gala is “Superfine: Tailoring Black Style,” with a dress code of “Tailored for You,” inspired by the history of Black Dandy. The event will be chaired by a lineup including Colman Domingo, ASAP Rocky, Pharrell Williams, and Lewis Hamilton.
