By Adam Pagnucco.
I have written previously about the labor dispute at the Montgomery County Conference Center, which is owned by the county and run by Marriott. UNITE HERE Local 25 has been seeking to unionize it for a year, so far to no avail. The union has brought in Scabby the Rat to press its cause just as the adjacent hotel has been sold (but still retains Marriott as the operator). The dispute has begun to cost the county a bit of money, although not yet enough to render the facility unprofitable.
Now the union has alleged that Marriott has begun clawing back at Scabby, which has occasionally patrolled outside the property. In a letter to the county executive and the county council on Friday, the union claimed that Marriott installed metal fences around the building, called county workers to remove Scabby and then called the police.
UNITE HERE Local 25 announces that it has summoned Scabby the Rat to assist its organizing campaign.
The union is now requesting a copy of the lease governing the conference center so it can evaluate any language pertaining to fencing and access. It is also calling out the county government itself, writing, “It is outrageous that war is being waged against labor-related speech on land that the County owns.”
I have asked Marriott for comment and will include it if I receive it. The union’s letter is reprinted below.
*****
August 7, 2026
Marc Elrich
Montgomery County Executive
Marc.Elrich@montgomerycountymd.gov
Natali Fani-González
Montgomery County Council President
Councilmember.Fani-Gonzalez@montgomerycountymd.gov
Re: Anti-Union Campaign Waged on County Property at Conference Center
Dear County Executive Elrich and Council President Fani-González:
I am writing to express Local 25’s dismay at the anti-union campaign being waged by Marriott on County-owned property at the Montgomery County Conference Center. Marriott operates the Conference Center pursuant to a contract with Montgomery County which states that “all activities” by Marriott at the Conference Center “shall be for the account of [Montgomery County].” Marriott acts in the County’s name.
On Thursday 8/6/26, Local 25 arrived at the Conference Center and discovered that Marriott had erected metal fences closing off much of the area surrounding the building, including both sets of bicycle racks located near the parking garage entrance. On previous occasions, Local 25 had engaged in peaceful labor demonstrations in the area now barricaded by the metal fences. Local 25 then set up “Scabby the Rat,” its inflatable rat-shaped balloon, nearby and began peacefully distributing leaflets to passersby on the sidewalk facing Executive Boulevard.
Shockingly, three County trucks then arrived on the scene and told Local 25 they had been summoned to remove a large piece of rubber trash – presumably Scabby, who is an iconic union symbol. After Local 25 explained that it was engaged in a peaceful demonstration, the County workers allowed Scabby to remain in place. Marriott then called the police in another attempt to eject Local 25 from the premises – which, it bears repeating, are owned by Montgomery County. Local 25 engaged respectfully with the police officers who showed up and explained to the officers that Local 25 remains committed to ensuring that our peaceful labor demonstrations do not obstruct public rights-of-way.
We question whether this anti-union behavior by Marriott is the sort of conduct the County wants done in its name. We question whether the County’s resources and taxpayer dollars are well-spent responding to these sorts of frivolous complaints. Local 25’s disappointment is only compounded by the Council’s recent decision to approve the issuance of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of County-sponsored bonds for the VIVA White Oak development project, without any mention of the labor peace agreements that County law will likely require there.
Local 25 requests that the County provide a copy of its lease with Marriott for the Conference Center, including any limitations therein upon the blockading of the sidewalk and surrounding entryway areas with metal fencing, and that the County inform Local 25 of the precise boundaries of the property line surrounding the Conference Center. It is outrageous that war is being waged against labor-related speech on land that the County owns.
Sincerely,
/s/ Paul Schwalb
Paul Schwalb
Executive Secretary-Treasurer
UNITE HERE Local 25
cc: Council Vice President Marilyn Balcombe,
councilmember.Balcombe@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Shebra Evans, councilmember.evans@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Andrew Friedson, Councilmember.Friedson@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Evan Glass, Councilmember.Glass@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Will Jawando, Councilmember.Jawando@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Sidney Katz, Councilmember.Katz@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Dawn Luedtke, Councilmember.Luedtke@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Kristin Mink, councilmember.mink@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Laurie-Anne Sayles, Councilmember.Sayles@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Councilmember Kate Stewart, Councilmember.Stewart@montgomerycountymd.gov;
Montgomery County Chief Administrative Officer Rich Madaleno, Richard.Madaleno@montgomerycountymd.gov
