In the latest wave of Southern California’s rolling hotel strike, workers at eight properties near Los Angeles International Airport walked off the job Friday morning.
The hotels affected by the strike include Four Points by Sheraton, Sheraton Gateway, Hyatt Regency LAX Airport, and Westin Los Angeles Airport Inn. This work stoppage was a response to a tense bargaining session on Wednesday between a group of Southern California hotels and Unite Here Local 11.
Unite Here Local 11 represents approximately 15,000 employees, including cooks, housekeepers, dishwashers, servers, porters, and front desk agents, at around 60 hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties. These workers have been participating in intermittent strikes over the past three months.
The union rejected an offer from the hotel group that included significant salary increases and pension contributions. Keith Grossman, an attorney representing over 40 hotel owners and operators in Southern California, stated in a press release on Thursday that the offer was a sincere attempt to kickstart the stalled negotiations.
The hotel group’s proposal involved an immediate $2.50 hourly pay increase, which would gradually increase to a total of $4 within the first nine months of the contract. Overall, the hotels offered a $9 pay increase over a six-year contract for most L.A. hotels. However, this offer would only result in a total hourly pay increase of $8.05 for workers at hotels in Orange County, the LAX area, and Long Beach.
The proposed six-year length of the contract is aimed at ensuring long-term labor stability, allowing customers to book hotels for upcoming major events in L.A., such as the World Cup and the Olympics, according to Grossman.
The union, on the other hand, claims that the hotels’ healthcare contributions are unacceptable. They allege that the hotel group offered a 1% annual increase to healthcare contributions, which only covers one-sixth of projected healthcare cost increases, as stated in a press release on Friday.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, expressed his displeasure with the hotels’ proposal, stating, “Never have I seen a more punitive, draconian proposal than what these greedy hotel owners put across the table. They are asking workers to choose between a meager pay raise and excellent healthcare. Our members, who sacrificed everything to keep this industry alive during the pandemic, have no choice but to walk out again.”
Unite Here Local 11 has been demanding across-the-board wage increases due to the impact of California’s housing crisis on its members. Initially, the union proposed an immediate $5 hourly wage increase and a $3 increase each subsequent year for a three-year contract, totaling an $11 raise. However, in a bargaining session on September 21, the union slightly lowered the proposal to $10.50 for the total raise.
The union has reached tentative agreements with management at two hotels: the Westin Bonaventure and the Biltmore Los Angeles, both located in downtown Los Angeles. The terms of these agreements have not been disclosed. The union is currently urging a boycott of all Southern California hotels that have not reached new contract agreements.
Representatives of the hotel industry have stated that the boycott and strike are negatively impacting the business in Southern California.
The following hotels were involved in Friday’s walkout:
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