Hotel developer joins forces with Workers Defense

The Workers Defense Project’s Better Builder Program has a new partner: the developers of a hotel at 1207 E. Cesar Chavez. Cristina Tzintzún, executive director of the Workers organization, announced at a press conference Thursday that developers Brian and Bree Carrico have agreed to pay workers a minimum of $15 per hour and provide safety training for all construction workers on the project. Tzintzún said her organization and the Carricos share a common belief: “That the workers who build our city should be able to afford to live in it, and that workers’ families should know at the end of each workday that they can expect their family member to come home safely. But right now, that often isn’t the norm.” In addition to the higher wages and safety training, Tzintzún said all construction workers will have workers compensation insurance and that there will be monitoring of safety conditions to ensure the well-being of employees. Tzintzún said the Carricos chose to become part of the program because they understand the need to ensure that everyone benefits from Austin’s prosperity. According to The Austin Chronicle, not everybody is thrilled with the idea of a new hotel at that location. City Council Member Pio Renteria was quoted as saying, “I think it’s an infringement on the neighborhood.”