They were fired back in April, but now three former employees of the Holiday Inn Express in Latham are getting their jobs back. Our Erin Connolly was at the rally in downtown Albany when the announcement was made.

ALBANY, N.Y. -- After 280 days of striking, workers and union leaders announce victory. In April, they allege the Holiday Inn Express in Latham illegally fired four employees who were looking to start a union. Three are now getting their jobs back.

Sabrina Wheeler, a housekeeper at the Holiday Inn, said, ''It was the first time I stood up for what I believe in and my rights and it was very important that's why I stuck with it.''

Three months after the National Labor Relations Board issued a formal complaint against the hotel's owner, an agreement was reached. The hotel will back pay the fired workers and rehire them.

Tiffany Wheeler, who was fired from the Holiday Inn Express, said, ''It took this long to get where we are now but I am proud that we won overall.''

The Holiday Inn Express sent us a statement in response to the settlement saying, "The settlement at this time allows the hotel to move forward without incurring legal expenses which would greatly exceed the amount of money involved in the back pay to three workers. As always, the hotel respects the rights of its employees to freely choose whether or not to select a union as its bargaining agent and to engage in activities protected by the National Labor Relations Act."

It's been a long fight for workers and their friends who picketed each and every day for the last seven months. It might have been cold, it might have been windy, but these people came out despite the weather for a cause they feel is important enough.

Congressman Scott Murphy said, ''I think that this settlement is great. We had people that wanted to form a union and got fired immediately. That's just the wrong thing.''

Congressman Paul Tonko said, ''I think what this calls for is fairness and this gives Americans the right to organize that should be a fundamental right in our society.''

With this saga behind them, workers say it's a job well done.

Tiffany Wheeler said, ''In the end we're happy. We did this we fought for our rights and we did what we thought was right and that was the main point.''