Fired Hyatt housekeepers refuse new jobs

BOSTON -- Housekeepers fired by Hyatt's three Boston area hotels refused new jobs offered by the company on Monday afternoon.

On Friday, the Hyatt promised that the workers would be offered new full-time jobs elsewhere in the area.

In a statement, Hyatt said the housekeepers would be offered jobs not with Hyatt but with a Boston affiliate of United Service Companies, a staffing agency. The workers would be guaranteed the pay that they received at Hyatt through the end of 2010, with Hyatt extending health care coverage through March, after which they could obtain coverage through their new employer.

On Monday, the women refused the offer because they want their old job back.

Gov. Deval Patrick had urged state employees to stop doing business with Hyatt unless the housekeepers were rehired. A union representing about 1,700 Boston taxi drivers also threatened to boycott the hotels.

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