The Courtyard Marriott-University Medical Center hotel on Main Street, a longtime target of living wage protesters, has agreed to provide its employees with a hospitality training course at Piedmont Virginia Community College. The hotel's recent decision placated the protests, which had been held weekly since the hotel's opening in June 2000.
"I think the protestors were here every Friday since the hotel opened," said Brett Darlington, general manager of the Marriott Courtyard-University Medical Center. "It was anywhere from three to ten protestors at a time."
Since the decision to offer the introductory course, no protestors have gathered outside the Marriott.
"I wasn't aware of any local hospitality training courses when I arrived, so knowing about it was the first piece," Darlington said. Charlottesville Mayor Maurice Cox "brought this to our attention and we were happy to know that we could get the associates here to get the training."
Living Wage protestors advocated a higher wage for employees to cover what they described as the living costs for a family.
"I think [Federal Living Wage] rounds out to about $9.20 an hour if you're working full-time," said fourth-year College student Katy Bauer, a former Marriott protestor.
The Marriott currently pays $8 an hour for starting employees, and after three months, a performance review evaluates the employees' job execution. After one year of employment, the workers may receive a 5 percent pay increase if their duties are consistently completed with accuracy and effectiveness.
"Those who have exceptional performances will get a pay increase in an increment between $.25 and $.50," Darlington said.
The 10-week course, which allows staff members to receive hotel and hospitality instruction, commenced April 7. The Marriott offered the program, "workplace essential skills for hospitality employees," to its entire staff. Five employees decided to take the course. Other staff members have said they plan to pursue the class in the future.
Other hotels in the Charlottesville area also involved with the PVCC class include the Omni Hotel, Boars' Head Inn, Double Tree Hotel, Hampton Inn & Suites and Best Western Cavalier Inn.
"The content that's covered in the course includes communication skills, team building, problem solving, computer literacy and also an overview of the hospitality industry and what the opportunities are for advancement in that industry," said Mary Jane King, assistant to the president for institutional advancement at PVCC.
Shorter courses will be offered in the future, providing degree and certificate programs for hospitality employees, King said.
"I think it's great that they're going to be offering classes to their employees," Bauer said.
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