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BREAKING: Class Action Lawsuit Alleges Hotel Figueroa Owner BGO and Operators Violated Los Angeles Hotel Worker Retention Law
Los Angeles–Today, a laid-off cook, Maria Ibarra, filed a class action lawsuit alleging violations of Los Angeles’s Hotel Worker Retention Ordinance at the Hotel Figueroa where more than a hundred workers have lost their jobs.
Located at the corner of Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles, the Hotel Figueroa is an iconic 14-floor building, which, in addition to guest rooms, features two destination restaurants, Sparrow Italia and Café Fig, and several other food and beverage outlets.
The lawsuit alleges that the Hotel Figueroa’s owner BGO (formerly GreenOak Real Estate) and operators have violated a city ordinance meant to protect workers’ jobs when there are changes in management by failing to retain them when the new operator took over.
The Hotel Worker Retention Ordinance was enacted to address the problem of mass layoffs of hotel workers that have occurred historically when corporate ownership or management of a hotel changes. The ordinance requires that new owners or operators retain the site’s employees for a transitional period, ensuring employment stabilization for community members and alleviating the demands for social services for newly-unemployed workers.
The class action lawsuit alleges that, just days after Noble 33 ceased operations and laid off its employees, BGO and its primary operator Highgate contracted with a new company, The Botanical Group, to serve as the operator for the hotel’s Café Fig and other outlets. Café Fig and other food and beverage operations were quickly reopened, but without their former non-management staff.
The lawsuit accuses the BGO, Highgate, and Botanical Group of unlawfully failing to retain veteran employees. The suit also alleges that former operator Noble 33 failed to facilitate the transition by timely providing all necessary information about the workers to the other companies.
Ms. Ibarra and the putative class of affected Hotel Figueroa workers are represented by Lauren Teukolsky of Teukolsky Law and Jeremy Blasi in his individual capacity.
PRESS RELEASE: UNITE HERE Local 11 Unveils Results and Terms of Historic Deal Reached At 34 Hotels
The announcement also comes days after the politically powerful union’s ground game was key in passing the highest minimum wage in the country in Long Beach ahead of the FIFA World Cup and the Olympics, and securing Nithya Raman’s seat on the Los Angeles City Council.
PRESS RELEASE: Fifth woman working at an Aimbridge-operated hotel files state sexual harassment allegations
Prominent Californians urge new Aimbridge CEO in his first week to “play a leading role” in resolving “allegations of sexual harassment and ineffective management”
Los Angeles: The fifth woman in less than a month has broken her silence by alleging she experienced sexual harassment working at an Aimbridge-operated hotel.
Marta Vela, a houseperson at the Hampton Inn in Santa Monica, sent a complaint letter to the California Civil Rights Department alleging that a manager made what she understood to be a sexual proposition when he invited her to his house when they were alone in his office, telling her he wouldn’t say anything if she didn’t say anything. A year later, she alleges, she reported sexual harassment from a different manager to Aimbridge HR, but they apparently refused to investigate or take any action she was aware of in response to her complaints. She asked management to switch her to the graveyard shift so she could avoid the manager’s harassment, only to have him start arriving to work an hour early and continue harassing her.
“I want to return to my normal job. Working overnight has taken a toll on my health and quality of life,” says Vela in her complaint letter. “But more than anything, I want to feel safe at work, and I want to feel like my employer is taking my complaints seriously. That is what every worker deserves.”
Hotel workers have called a boycott against nine Southern California hotels operated by Aimbridge Hospitality, which they have dubbed “Shamebridge.”
Today a group of more than forty prominent Californians, including State Senator Maria Elena Durazo and co-founder of the United Farm Workers Dolores Huerta, sent a letter to Aimbridge’s new CEO Craig Smith “to raise concerns regarding a matter of urgent importance on which we hope you will play a leading role: Women workers have brought forward allegations of sexual harassment and ineffective management at multiple Aimbridge-operated properties in Southern California.”
“These incidents form what appears to be a pattern of managers at Aimbridge properties failing to adequately ensure full respect for women workers’ rights,” their letter continues. “As someone who is only now joining Aimbridge’s leadership, we are not suggesting that you are responsible for or would condone this conduct. But it clearly presents a critical challenge to your early leadership and an opportunity to course correct.”
Vela’s former coworker Maritza Villeda at the Aimbridge-operated Hampton Inn Santa Monica was the first Aimbridge woman to break her silence last month. She submitted her own letter to the state Civil Rights Department alleging that after she complained about persistent sexual harassment to hotel management, the hotel failed to respond appropriately to her complaints and instead retaliated against her by terminating her.
Earlier this month, three women workers from the Aimbridge-operated Sheraton Park Anaheim each submitted complaints to the California Civil Rights Department, alleging that their employer failed to respond appropriately to their complaints of sexual harassment. One week later, hundreds of hotel workers from Anaheim, Pasadena, Santa Monica, Beverly Hills, and Long Beach gathered outside the Sheraton Park for a protest against sexual harassment during the Natural Products Expo West, which hosted 70,000 convention attendees to the city.
Workers at a third hotel, which was operated by Aimbridge until the operator was replaced earlier this year, filed a pending class action lawsuit against an Aimbridge subsidiary alleging violations of the panic button and other worker safety provisions of the Los Angeles Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance. A primary purpose of this ordinance is to help protect workers from sexual assault in the workplace.
Craig Smith started as CEO of Aimbridge Hospitality on March 18. Aimbridge is the world’s largest third-party hotel operator, owned by Advent International.
STATEMENT: LA Forward, UNITE HERE Local 11, and Coalition Partners Congratulates Nithya Raman on Her Re-Election
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: March 14, 2024
LA Forward, UNITE HERE Local 11, and Coalition Partners Congratulates Nithya Raman on Her Re-Election
The “Neighbors Supporting Nithya Raman for City Council” and “Worker Power for Nithya Raman for City Council” Committees played a critical role in delivering victory.
Los Angeles, CA — “Neighbors Supporting Nithya Raman for City Council, sponsored by LA Forward” and “Worker Power for Nithya Raman for City Council, sponsored by UNITE HERE Local 11” congratulate Los Angeles City Councilmember Nithya Raman on her outright re-election victory. Earning more than 50% of the votes cast, Councilmember Raman exceeded the threshold needed to secure a second term on the LA City Council.
LA Forward and UNITE HERE Local 11 brought together a coalition of workers and renters advocates to support Councilmember Raman with two Independent Expenditure committees and to fight back against the real estate moguls and corporate landlords, who spent millions trying to defeat her. Coalition partners included UFCW Local 770, Teamsters 396, SEIU USWW, SEIU Local 2015, SEIU Local 721, Engineers & Architects Association, NUHW, California Working Families Party, Smart Justice California, and LA League of Conservation Voters.
“We did what we do best: hit the pavement and got out the vote, knocking on 27,600 doors and talking to over 4,600 voters,” said Maria Teresa Alvarez, member of UNITE HERE Local 11. “Whether risking arrest to support LAX area workers fighting for a living wage, or walking the strike line during the biggest hotel worker strike in modern U.S history, Councilmember Raman has always shown up and delivered for us and all working families.”
“As working families and tenants’ rights advocates, we came together to ensure that the voters knew about Councilmember Raman’s successful track record of delivering real results on homelessness, renters’ rights, climate change, and good government reforms. With the seven mailers we sent out, we are proud to have played a part in ensuring that she will be able to continue her bold leadership for progressive solutions on the City Council,” stated David Levitus, Executive Director of LA Forward.
“Corporate-funded Independent Expenditure committees spent over a million dollars to flood voters with negative ads distorting Raman’s record in an effort to unseat a champion for Los Angeles working families. We were heavily outspent, but our members’ tenacity helped put Nithya on the path to victory,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president UNITE HERE Local 11.
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LA Forward is a community organization fighting for policies that will make Los Angeles County a fair, flourishing place for everyone. LA Forward is member-driven 501(c)(4) nonprofit seeking to fulfill the promise of democracy and ensure Angelenos have the knowledge, skills, and relationships to advance justice across a wide range of issues — affordable housing, climate justice, a fair economy, good government, and more.
UNITE HERE Local 11 is a labor union representing more than 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona that work in hotels, restaurants, universities, convention centers and airports
PRESS RELEASE: Aimbridge Hospitality Slammed With Sexual Harassment Complaints
Workers file state complaints, gather to protest company’s alleged failure to prevent harassment
Anaheim, Calif.: Three women workers from the Aimbridge Hospitality-operated Sheraton Park Anaheim each submitted complaints to the California Civil Rights Department today, alleging that their employer failed to respond properly to their complaints of repeated sexual harassment. The complaints come on the heels of hotel workers calling for a boycott of Aimbridge Hospitality, dubbed “Shamebridge.”
Worker Jenny Hong alleged in her letter that for almost six months, she faced nearly daily sexual harassment from a coworker who made unwanted comments on her appearance, physically grabbed her, and caused her intense anxiety at work. Worker Margarita Virrueta de Garibay separately alleged that the same coworker subjected her to sexually suggestive comments and unsolicited “massages.” Hong and a third woman reported the coworker’s conduct to the hotel’s human resources department, but both women allege that the company has done little to protect them from ongoing harassment.
“I am choosing to break my silence now because no woman should experience abuse in the workplace.” says Virrueta de Garibay. “I want to ensure that future generations of women, everywhere, feel safe and comfortable where they work.
Two weeks ago, another woman worker at an Aimbridge-operated hotel complained that she was fired from the Hampton Inn Santa Monica after reporting near-daily harassment. Maritza Villeda also submitted a letter to the Civil Rights Department in which she reported that a coworker verbally threatened her repeatedly, including aggressively calling her a “fucking bitch.” Villeda alleged that after she complained to hotel management at least five times over several weeks, the hotel failed to respond appropriately to her complaints and instead retaliated against her by terminating her.
“It is shameful that these hotel workers brought their complaints to management and were reportedly met with indifference,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “Aimbridge Hospitality continues to show how little it cares for its employees.”
At yet a third hotel, the San Pedro Doubletree, which was operated by Aimbridge until it was replaced earlier this year, workers have filed a pending class action lawsuit against an Aimbridge subsidiary alleging violations of the panic button and other worker safety provisions of the Los Angeles Hotel Worker Protection Ordinance. A primary purpose of this ordinance is to help protect workers from sexual assault in the workplace.
These charges of disregard for worker safety suggest an ongoing pattern of Aimbridge’s failure to protect its workers. The California Labor Commissioner and Los Angeles District Attorney George Gascón are currently investigating allegations of the exploitation of unhoused migrant workers at other Aimbridge properties in Southern California. Two additional Aimbridge-operated hotels face pending federal unfair labor practice allegations that managers unlawfully interfered with the rights of employees to engage in union or other protected activity.
The submission of these complaints takes place days before the Natural Products Expo West descends on Anaheim. Hotel workers have told event organizers to anticipate picketing and disruptions as they continue to fight for safe working conditions. Aimbridge Hospitality, the third-largest hotel operator in the world, operates a dozen hotels in Orange County.
PRESS RELEASE: Boycott of Hotel Figueroa and Restaurant Operator, The Botanical Group, Declared Following Firings, Shootings, and Unsettled Labor Dispute; Letter Signed by Hundreds Delivered
“I’m calling for a boycott of the hotel because our jobs are very difficult, and the company’s response to our strike and their failure to sign a fair contract has shown that they don’t value or respect us,” said Noelia Gonzales, room attendant at the Figueroa Hotel.
“I was shot twice with metal ball bearings from across the street while on strike with my coworkers. I was hit on my neck and feet. We do not deserve to risk our safety simply because we are advocating for ourselves. I want there to be justice, and for the violence that we endured to not go unnoticed, that is why we are calling for a boycott,” said Felix Vanegas, houseman at the Figueroa Hotel.
Workers and community allies delivered a letter signed by nearly 500 people demanding that the hotel bring back the “Figueroa 100.” Workers are calling for tourists and visitors to choose alternatives for any travel and events until all of the workers have won the dignity and respect they deserve and the fired restaurant workers are returned to work.
Joining the workers was Reverend Edgar Colon of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice, “CLUE will join the boycott of this establishment, and will neither eat, meet, sleep or gather here until the issues that the workers have laid out have been resolved.
PRESS RELEASE: Women Leaders Rise Up in Support of SaMo Hotel Worker Filing Sexual Harassment Complaint Against Aimbridge-Operated Property
Santa Monica, Calif.: Days before the Film Independent Spirit Awards take place in Santa Monica, prominent women leaders from CLUE, Southern Christian Leadership Conference, and Program for Torture Victims joined silence breakers to rally and picket outside the Hampton Inn Santa Monica. They expressed support for hotel worker Maritza Villeda, who submitted a complaint to the California Civil Rights Department alleging that her employer, the Aimbridge Hospitality-operated Hampton Inn Santa Monica, failed to respond properly to her complaints of sexual harassment by a coworker and instead terminated her.
In a letter to the California Civil Rights Department, long-time Aimbridge employee Villeda alleged that a valet employee repeatedly verbally threatened her at work, including by aggressively calling her a “fucking bitch.” In her letter, Villeda alleges that the verbal threats and sexist slurs continued on a near-daily basis for over six weeks, even though she reported the behavior to the general manager on multiple occasions. She alleges that the hotel failed to respond appropriately to her complaints of harassment, and that instead, the hotel retaliated against her by terminating her.
Hotel workers have a long history of fighting for protections against assault in Santa Monica, and fought in 2018 to pass laws that then expanded across to multiple cities.
Workers at the Hampton Inn Santa Monica are part of dozens of other hotel workers who have been fighting for a fair contract since July 2023. There is currently a boycott of Aimbridge Hospitality.
“Women’s rights are civil rights and we must protect them! SLCL is proud to stand with Maritza and her coworkers,” said Reverend Thembekila Smart of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference of Southern California.
BREAKING NEWS: Five Hotels – Sofitel, 2 Hyatts in Long Beach, Hyatt Andaz, Hyatt Shay – Sign Tentative Agreements with UNITE HERE Local 11, Raising Total to 34 Hotels
Los Angeles, CA: Hundreds of workers – including those at the Sofitel, Hyatt Shay in Culver City, Hyatt Regency Long Beach, Hyatt Centric The Pike Long Beach, and Hyatt Andaz in West Hollywood – are the latest to win tentative agreements in the largest hotel strike in U.S. history. Workers have struck more than 130 times since contracts expired last July.