California Faces Protest Threat From 15,000 Hotel Workers Demanding Wage Hike
Thousands of hotel employees in Southern California are on the verge of a strike as the summer season approaches, demanding improved compensation and fair treatment. With over 60 hotels in Los Angeles County facing expiring contracts with union workers at the end of the month, Unite Here Local 11, representing more than 15,000 workers, has voted overwhelmingly in favor of a strike authorization if their demands are not met.
The union, which represents a diverse range of hotel staff including room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, and servers, is highlighting the vast wage disparities within the industry. Despite luxury hotel rooms in Santa Monica being priced at $500 to $600 per night, workers earn an average of $26 an hour, a stark contrast the union deems “unjust.”
“We’re telling the industry we suffered during the pandemic, we sacrificed, and now that you are making money we want a share of that money,” Unite Here Local 11 Co-President Kurt Petersen said.
At the heart of their demands is an immediate $5 hourly wage increase to cope with the rising cost of housing. Hotel workers like Larico Simpson, a cook at Viceroy Santa Monica, struggle to make ends meet and live paycheck-to-paycheck. The daily two-to-three-hour commute adds stress and financial strain to his life.
“It would change my situation. I could maybe get a car so I don’t have to ride two hours, I don’t have to get up at 4 a.m. just to get here at 7 o’clock,” Simpson said.
If negotiations fail, hotel workers are prepared to strike during the peak travel season, potentially impacting the entire hospitality industry.
However, the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, represented by Peter Hillen, dismisses the strike as “self-centered,” arguing that it is “an issue that should be decided by city leaders who have the wherewithal and means to produce policy.”
Unite Here Local 11 has been in negotiations since April 20, and the possibility of a strike looms closer, coinciding with the Fourth of July weekend. The workers’ vote to authorize a strike signals their determination to be heard and recognized for their contributions during the pandemic.
A successful strike would mark the largest in modern U.S. history in the industry, surpassing the 2018 Marriott strike involving nearly 8,000 workers.
As contract expiration nears, tensions rise, and negotiations stall. The union accuses hotels of not offering any wage proposals, which they perceive as a total disregard for workers who made extraordinary sacrifices during the pandemic. Major hotel chains like Marriott International, Hyatt, and Hilton Hotels & Resorts are among those involved in the talks but have yet to respond to requests for comment.
With Los Angeles hosting major events like the World Cup in 2026 and the Summer Olympics in 2028, fair compensation is crucial to ensure the city’s hospitality sector thrives.
Information for this story was found via NBC, Los Angeles Times, and the sources mentioned. The author has no securities or affiliations related to the organizations discussed. Not a recommendation to buy or sell. Always do additional research and consult a professional before purchasing a security. The author holds no licenses.
