![Los Angeles Hospitality Workers Initiate Strike]()
(Unite Here Local 11/Twitter)
Los Angeles Hospitality Workers Initiate Strike
Thousands of hospitality workers in L.A. and Orange County officially went on strike as their contracts with hotels expired.
Workers for some of the biggest hotels in L.A., including the Intercontinental and Millennium Biltmore in downtown., and the J.W. Marriott near L.A. Live, walked out and picketed Sunday, July 2.
"Southern California hotel workers are ON STRIKE!," Unite Here Local 11, who represent the workers in negotiations, said on its official Twitter account. "Thousands walked off the job at properties across DTLA & Santa Monica. Dozens more properties remain without a Union contract. Visiting the area? Don't be a scab."
Uniformly, the striking workers have worn red shirts that say, "Hotel workers on strike," while holding signs with similar messaging in both English and Spanish.
Outside of the Intercontinental, workers displayed a large homemade banner that read, "Intercontinental on strike!" Workers striking outside the Biltmore could be seen banging on drums and chanting their demands.
The workers are seeking higher wages, healthcare benefits, pension and adjusted workloads. Picketing protesters have held signs reading, "One job should be enough," and "I have the right to work where I live," as Unite Here polled its workers, learning that 53% have moved away from Los Angeles due to the cost of living, but continue to commute to their L.A. jobs.
“People are being priced out of their homes and have to commute for hours to work, Los Angeles City Councilman Hugo Soto-Martinez said in a statement after being arrested in a June demonstration that was organized by Unite Here.
The contract between the union workers and hotels such as Hyatt, Intercontinental Hotels Group, Hilton and Marriott, expired on June 30.
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