July 3 (UPI) — Over the weekend, thousands of hotel workers in Southern California participated in what their union is describing as the largest industry-wide strike in U.S. history, just ahead of July 4th celebrations.
The strike, initiated by UNITE HERE Local 11, began on Sunday and involved more than 15,000 workers from 64 major hotels in Los Angeles and Orange County, as mentioned in a statement by the union.
The workers are demanding higher wages, which includes an immediate $5-an-hour increase to address the rising housing costs. They are also seeking affordable family healthcare, a pension plan, and fair and reasonable workloads, as stated by the union in their statement.
“This strike has the potential to be the largest ever seen in the modern history of hotel workers in the United States,” the union declared.
According to information available on the union’s website, Los Angeles and Orange County hotels received substantial federal bailouts during the pandemic and have witnessed higher profit levels compared to pre-pandemic times this year. On the other hand, their employees are struggling to make ends meet, with 53% stating that they have either already moved or plan to move due to the soaring housing costs.
“UNITE HERE Local 11 has more than 100 contracts expiring this year, with the aim of elevating the standards for service workers as the city of Los Angeles prepares for the World Cup (2026) and the Olympics (2028),” mentioned the union in another statement. “We are ready to welcome millions to the region, and we aim to capitalize on this opportunity to secure our position in the upcoming economic boom.”
This strike follows the union’s approval of it, with 96% of the members voting in favor earlier this month. Negotiations between the union and the hotel industry began on April 20.
Keith Grossman, a spokesperson for the bargaining group representing over 40 hotels involved in the discussions with the union, stated in a New York Times article that the union was not negotiating in good faith and had intentions of disrupting the hospitality industry.
“The hotels are committed to providing competitive wages, affordable and quality family healthcare, and a pension plan,” commented Grossman.
The union shared videos on their Twitter account, showcasing hotel workers picketing outside various hotels across Los Angeles and Orange County, including the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown, JW Marriott, and Millennium Biltmore Hotel, among others.
