LOS ANGELES (KABC) — Thousands of hotel workers across Los Angeles County officially walked out on Sunday and began a labor strike to demand higher wages and better benefits.
The contract between the hotels and Unite Here Local 11, which represents up to 15,000 workers employed in major hotels, expired at 00:01 on Saturday. The union had already reached an agreement with its largest employer, the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in downtown LA, on Wednesday evening
Hotels affected by the strike include the Intercontinental, Millennium Biltmore, The Ritz Carlton, all located in downtown Los Angeles, and The Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica.
Hotel officials have told reporters that in the event of a union strike, their facilities will remain open and management and other non-union staff will remain manned.
In an Instagram post on Sunday morning, the union said: “What do we do when workers’ rights are attacked? STAND UP, FIGHT BACK! The #SoCalHotelStrike has begun.”
After the strike was announced, workers gathered in a rally in front of the Intercontinental Hotel.
“Thousands of cooks, waiters, housekeepers, porters and front desk workers have quit their jobs in the largest hotel strike in our town’s history,” said Maria Hernandez, union organizer.
Workers say their workload has increased with fewer staff since the pandemic.
“Sometimes we end up doing the work of two or three people,” said Dana Sanchez.
Eyewitness News has reached out to the group representing the hotels for comment, but has received no response.
Meanwhile, Westin officials said their deal included higher wages and benefits.
Unite Here said that once the Westin contract is ratified, the 600 workers at the Bonaventure will enjoy:
– unprecedented wage increases to keep up with rising housing costs in Southern California
– Affordable, excellent family health care
– Humane and safe staffing that restores workplaces and working hours to pre-pandemic levels
— Pension contributions will be increased to allow workers to retire with dignity and
– Numerous improvements, including the historic wording “Equal Justice” which, among other things, allows access to union jobs for ex-prisoners and prohibits the use of E-Verify when hiring.
“With these extraordinary pay rises, I no longer have to choose between paying my rent and feeding my family,” said one employee, Nancy Cerrato of Westin’s budget division, in a union statement. “We have dedicated our lives to this industry. We deserve respect and the opportunity to afford to live in the city where we work.”
On June 8, 96% of union members voted to authorize a strike.
Union officials said a recent survey of their members found that 53% said they had moved in the last five years or would be moving in the near future because of the sharp rise in housing costs in the Los Angeles area.
“Hotel workers who work in Los Angeles’ booming tourism industry need to be able to live in Los Angeles,” union co-chairman Kurt Petersen told CNN.
Union officials said their members make $20 to $25 an hour.
Negotiators are calling for an immediate increase of $5 an hour and an additional $3 an hour over subsequent contract years, as well as improvements in health care and retirement benefits.
City News Service contributed to this report.