Workers at the LA Grand Hotel went on strike on August 2nd, alleging that management unfairly disciplined a housekeeper for raising safety concerns during a staff meeting. This hotel, located at 333 S. Figueroa St., plays a crucial role in Project Roomkey, a Los Angeles program that offers temporary housing to the homeless. Employees have expressed worries about their interactions with homeless guests.
Represented by Unite Here Local 11, the hotel’s 40 workers filed an unfair labor practices complaint with the National Labor Relations Board on July 17th. The union claims that management reprimanded Maribel Fajardo and issued her a warning for not addressing her concerns privately.
Under federal labor law, workers have the right to jointly voice workplace concerns without any interference or retaliation from management, according to union officials. Kurt Petersen, co-President of Unite Here, argued that employees do not forfeit their right to discuss safety issues upon entering the workplace, especially when the workplace has a contract with the city.
Fajardo and her colleagues at the LA Grand are demanding on-site security to tackle issues with unruly guests. The workers intend to continue their strike until management stops threatening employees who speak out on security matters, as stated by Petersen.
Pete Hillan, a spokesperson for the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, expressed confusion about why the union initiated the walkout, emphasizing that it is unbelievable for them to turn their backs on serving the needs of LA’s homeless population.
The concerns raised by hotel employees are genuine. Fajardo, who has been employed at the LA Grand for 25 years, recounted an uncomfortable incident where she was cleaning a room occupied by a homeless woman and another homeless man entered. She felt unprotected in the absence of someone in the hallway.
Fajardo also mentioned another incident involving a homeless woman who accosted a co-worker, urging them to go on strike. These incidents highlight the valid concerns of the workers.
The LA Grand is one of 43 hotels represented by Unite Here that have participated in recent strikes, advocating for higher wages that would enable them to afford the rising housing costs in Los Angeles.
Unite Here is demanding an immediate $5 hourly wage increase for all hotel workers, along with the continuation of family healthcare coverage and upgrades to the pension plan. They also seek reasonable workloads that prioritize safety and well-being.
The Coordinated Bargaining Group, which represents hotels in the Los Angeles and Orange County area in negotiations with Unite Here, recently proposed a wage increase of $2 per hour upon the ratification of a labor contract, followed by an additional $1 per hour increase on July 1, 2024.
In addition, Unite Here aims to establish a fund to support the construction of affordable housing for struggling hotel workers. This fund would be financed through a 7% tax on hotel guests, replacing the current fees they pay for amenities like wireless service.
The hotel strike, which is the largest in the nation, expanded on July 24th as employees from The Beverly Hilton and other area hotels joined in. The bargaining group’s spokesperson, Keith Grossman, urged the union to focus on negotiating an agreement that aligns with the employees’ desires, rather than resorting to boycotts and work stoppages that ultimately harm the employees.
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