Los Angeles: Room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, food service workers, event center, and front desk agents continued the call for livable wages and better benefits this evening as they prepare to begin their fight for a fair new contract this summer. Nearly 200,000 workers are represented by the unions who rallied in Downtown Los Angeles to amplify the shared need for wages that allow workers to live in the communities they work.
Since the pandemic, the region’s largest economic engine—the tourism industry—has celebrated record profits while hospitality workers are overworked, fighting to stay housed and alive.
“I was priced out of my community in Los Angeles,” said Brenda Mendoza, a UNITE HERE Local 11 uniform attendant at the JW Marriott. “Now, I get a few hours of sleep every night and spend 4 hours a day driving on dangerous roads between my home in Apple Valley and my hotel job in Downtown LA.”
UNITE HERE Local 11 has lined up over 100 contracts to expire this year, with the goal to lift the low standards of hospitality workers amid a major housing crisis. The typical housekeeper wage in LA is $18.86 per hour—not enough to live in LA whether single or supporting a family. On top of that, the city is preparing to welcome millions of guests for the World Cup (2026) and the Olympics (2028). Local 11 intends to ensure that the residents of Los Angeles who put their sweat and tears into maintaining the city’s tourism industry are provided with wages that allow them to secure housing.
“When half of our members have been forced to move or will have to move while the tourism industry boasts record profits, something is very wrong with the system,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to get workers wages that can secure local housing.”
At Universal Studios Hollywood, UNITE HERE Local 11 has joined in solidarity with IATSE B-192 to negotiate fair contracts for the 5,000 workers represented by both unions at the theme park.
“Two thirds of Local 11 and IATSE B-192 members at Universal Studios Hollywood earn around minimum wage while NBCUniversal boasts record profits,” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “As a result, many workers have experienced homelessness.”
“My wages are so low that I had to choose between buying a car and housing,” said Universal Studios Hollywood worker Chris Lillian, who has worked as a food stand attendant for 4 years. “Without my friend who generously rents out his spare room to me, I would be homeless.”
Local 11 is coming together with other unions whose contracts are expiring this year to ensure workers receive their fair share and housing security in the prosperous city of Los Angeles. Workers invited the CA Democrats to join them in demanding what they need to live in the city they work in: fair pay that accounts for rising rent, pension, healthcare, and humane workloads.
LA TIMES – L.A. City Council members, California assemblywoman arrested as hotel workers protest
In Act of Nonviolent Protest Nearly 200 Hotel Workers Risk Arrest on Century Boulevard Following 96% Strike Authorization Vote
Los Angeles, CA: Nearly 200 workers and community allies engaged in an act of mass nonviolent civil disobedience today, following an overwhelming strike authorization vote June on 8. Hundreds more room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, and community allies took to the streets to call for the wages required to afford housing in Los Angeles.
“I risked arrest for the future of my kids, my coworkers and myself. The companies have taken advantage of the pandemic to get richer, while we struggle to stay housed. I am fighting for that change, and ready to strike!” said Martha Esquivel, Holiday Inn LAX, laundry attendant.
More Perfect Union – Brenda Mendoza Profile
96% VOTED TO AUTHORIZE A STRIKE
The strike authorization vote comes after more than a month of failed negotiations with our hotel employers. Our key demands are an immediate $5 an hour wage increase to keep pace with the soaring cost of housing; affordable family healthcare; a pension that will enable workers to retire with security; and safe and humane workloads.
SoCal Hotel Workers Authorize Largest Industry Wide Strike in U.S History, 96% YES
Los Angeles, CA: The region’s largest hospitality union, UNITE HERE Local 11, representing over 32,000 room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, servers and food service workers, voted to authorize a strike today.
During the pandemic, hotels received $15 billion in federal bailouts and cut jobs and guest services such as daily room cleaning. In 2023, Hotel profits in Los Angeles and Orange County exceeded pre-pandemic levels, yet hospitality workers continue to struggle to afford a place to live in the cities where they work.
Top on the list of concerns for hotel workers is the rising cost of housing. In a UNITE HERE Local 11 survey, 53% of workers said that they either have moved in the past 5 years or will move in the near future because of soaring housing costs.
“I voted yes to strike because I commute two hours from my home in Apple Valley to downtown Los Angeles. I deserve to make enough money to live near where I work.” said Brenda Mendoza, a uniform attendant at the JW Marriott LA Live.
“Hotel workers who work in the booming Los Angeles’ tourism industry must be able to live in Los Angeles,” said Kurt Petersen, Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11. “The industry shamelessly exploited the pandemic and is now reaping greater profits than ever before. Yet workers cannot afford to pay the rent. This 96% vote to authorize a strike sends a clear message to the industry that workers have reached their limit and are prepared to strike to secure a living wage.”
L.A. hotels depend on low-wage workers. Thousands have just OK’d a possible strike
VOTE YES FOR THE STRIKE
On June 8, 2023 thousands of Local 11 members will vote to authorize a strike for better wages, affordable housing, a better pension, healthcare, and fair workloads. Sí se puede!
L.A.’s Summer of Solidarity
Thousands of local hotel workers move closer to a strike: ‘Living in L.A. is no longer an option’
Thousands of Workers, Including UNITE HERE Local 11 Members, Rally to Demand Livable Wages Amid Housing Crisis
Los Angeles: Room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, food service workers, event center, and front desk agents continued the call for livable wages and better benefits this evening as they prepare to begin their fight for a fair new contract this summer. Nearly 200,000 workers are represented by the unions who rallied in Downtown Los Angeles to amplify the shared need for wages that allow workers to live in the communities they work.
Since the pandemic, the region’s largest economic engine—the tourism industry—has celebrated record profits while hospitality workers are overworked, fighting to stay housed and alive.
“I was priced out of my community in Los Angeles,” said Brenda Mendoza, a UNITE HERE Local 11 uniform attendant at the JW Marriott. “Now, I get a few hours of sleep every night and spend 4 hours a day driving on dangerous roads between my home in Apple Valley and my hotel job in Downtown LA.”
UNITE HERE Local 11 has lined up over 100 contracts to expire this year, with the goal to lift the low standards of hospitality workers amid a major housing crisis. The typical housekeeper wage in LA is $18.86 per hour—not enough to live in LA whether single or supporting a family. On top of that, the city is preparing to welcome millions of guests for the World Cup (2026) and the Olympics (2028). Local 11 intends to ensure that the residents of Los Angeles who put their sweat and tears into maintaining the city’s tourism industry are provided with wages that allow them to secure housing.
“When half of our members have been forced to move or will have to move while the tourism industry boasts record profits, something is very wrong with the system,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “We are prepared to do whatever it takes to get workers wages that can secure local housing.”
At Universal Studios Hollywood, UNITE HERE Local 11 has joined in solidarity with IATSE B-192 to negotiate fair contracts for the 5,000 workers represented by both unions at the theme park.
“Two thirds of Local 11 and IATSE B-192 members at Universal Studios Hollywood earn around minimum wage while NBCUniversal boasts record profits,” said Susan Minato, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “As a result, many workers have experienced homelessness.”
“My wages are so low that I had to choose between buying a car and housing,” said Universal Studios Hollywood worker Chris Lillian, who has worked as a food stand attendant for 4 years. “Without my friend who generously rents out his spare room to me, I would be homeless.”
Local 11 is coming together with other unions whose contracts are expiring this year to ensure workers receive their fair share and housing security in the prosperous city of Los Angeles. Workers invited the CA Democrats to join them in demanding what they need to live in the city they work in: fair pay that accounts for rising rent, pension, healthcare, and humane workloads.