Southern California’s massive hotel strike reignited Sunday, Dec. 17 as hundreds of workers from Santa Monica, Los Angeles and Pasadena walked off the job for higher wages and better working conditions.
The walkout continued Monday at the Pasadena Hilton, Courtyard Santa Monica, Doubletree Los Angeles, Doubletree San Pedro, Hampton Inn Santa Monica and Holiday Inn LAX.
Also see: Four more hotels reach tentative labor agreements with Unite Here
Union officials say the workers plan to stay out until a labor agreement is reached.
They are demanding that employer Aimbridge Hospitality and private equity owner Advent International agree to the tentative agreement other hotels have forged with Unite Here Local 11, which represents the hospitality employees.
The action comes amid a protracted strike that began over the July 4th weekend involving 15,000 workers from 60 Southland hotels.
The latest walkout comes after 10 additional hotels reached tentative settlements with the union, bringing the total to 20.
The latest to reach middle ground with the union include the Irvine Marriott, W Hotel Westwood, SLS Beverly Hills, Westin LAX, Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, JW Marriott LA Live, Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, Courtyard by Marriott Los Angeles, Residence Inn by Marriott Los Angeles and Hilton Irvine.
“If the world’s largest hotel companies, Marriott and Hilton, agreed to raise the standard for hotel workers, what makes other hoteliers such as the Maya in Long Beach or Aimbridge Hospitality think their workers will accept anything less?” Unite Here co-President Kurt Petersen said in a statement.
Petersen said union members are more determined that ever to win a “living wage.”
“Nothing will stop them,” he said.
A spokesman with Coordinated Bargaining Group, which is representing the hotels in labor negotiations with Unite Here, could not be reached for comment.
Unite Here is demanding a $5-an-hour pay hike for all hotel employees. The union is also…
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