BREAKING NEWS: Long Beach Convention Center Workers Vote 85% To Strike Ahead of Long Beach State of the City, Call on City to Not Roll Back Living Wage Law
Long Beach: Last night workers for ASM Global at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center voted 85% to authorize a strike to protest the issue of subcontracting at their workplaces.
“My coworkers and I work hard to welcome all into our city. It is a shame that ASM Global has not ensured its workers earn livable wages whether we work directly for ASM or we are subcontracted.We all need wages to help us provide for our families. ” said Jesus Jr Morales a Banquet Captain at the Long Beach Convention Center.
Workers at the Long Beach Convention and Entertainment Center could engage in picketing, boycotting, or striking at any moment. These workers are the cooks, bartenders, and servers serving the Long Beach Convention Center, the Long Beach Arena, and Terrace Theatre. The workers and ASM have been in bargaining for months but have not reached an agreement on a new union contract, with the issue of subcontracted work being a sticking point. Pickets and protests could occur as early as next week.
Long Beach Convention and Long Beach Airport workers have also been advocating for the City to adopt an “Olympic Wage” ordinance to match the wages Long Beach hotel workers won in 2024. With hospitality business owners set to reap enormous benefits from the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028, an increased minimum wage would ensure all workers who will welcome the millions of guests coming into the region can live in the communities near where they work.
However, Long Beach City leaders voted this past Tuesday to draft an ordinance that would strip away the rights of subcontracted workers to be covered by the city’s wage law. Workers and community members are calling on the city to reverse this decision.
Ada Briceño, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11 said, “As the city and our region are gearing up for the Olympics and Paralympics of 2028, it is disappointing that leaders are taking steps that would strip workers to a living wage. The city and its leadership have an opportunity to right this wrong.”