On July 2, 2023, a mob of hotel workers left their jobs to go on strike, demanding a raise and better healthcare benefits. They took over the areas that tourists commonly visited to celebrate the Fourth of July to get their message across.
Over the span of the pandemic, unemployment rates increased tremendously and worker pay took a huge dive. This affected many people and their families, especially the hotel employees in LA, who were unable to pay their needed bills and were struggling to get by with the expensive living conditions.
“The hotels want to continue to provide strong wages, affordable quality family health care, and a pension,” Keith Grossman, a spokesperson for a bargaining group of many of Los Angeles and Orange County’s hotels, said.
In March 2021, the United States began falling into inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many different industries went into labor fights, struggling to get by with their businesses. At the same time, tourism levels skyrocketed and business sales began to improve in 2022, where $34.5 million of business sales were made. Unite Here Local 11, the union representing the hotel workers, even got contracts signed to increase workers’ pay by $5, but this did not help hotel workers like Diana Rios-Sanchez keep up with inflation. Paying abills and rent was still an issue, which soon led to the strike hotel employees are holding to demand higher earnings from their work.
“All we do in hotels is work and work and get by with very little,” Ms. Rios-Sanchez said. “We take care of the tourists, but no one takes care of us.”
Business professionals explained how increasing workers’ pay will not solve California’s problem of high and unaffordable living costs. Officials say the strike would likely last for a few more days, for the hotel workers are determined to gain better salary and health benefits. Meanwhile, hotels will continue serving guests as usual.
Over the span of the pandemic, unemployment rates increased tremendously and worker pay took a huge dive. This affected many people and their families, especially the hotel employees in LA, who were unable to pay their needed bills and were struggling to get by with the expensive living conditions.
“The hotels want to continue to provide strong wages, affordable quality family health care, and a pension,” Keith Grossman, a spokesperson for a bargaining group of many of Los Angeles and Orange County’s hotels, said.
In March 2021, the United States began falling into inflation due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Many different industries went into labor fights, struggling to get by with their businesses. At the same time, tourism levels skyrocketed and business sales began to improve in 2022, where $34.5 million of business sales were made. Unite Here Local 11, the union representing the hotel workers, even got contracts signed to increase workers’ pay by $5, but this did not help hotel workers like Diana Rios-Sanchez keep up with inflation. Paying abills and rent was still an issue, which soon led to the strike hotel employees are holding to demand higher earnings from their work.
“All we do in hotels is work and work and get by with very little,” Ms. Rios-Sanchez said. “We take care of the tourists, but no one takes care of us.”
Business professionals explained how increasing workers’ pay will not solve California’s problem of high and unaffordable living costs. Officials say the strike would likely last for a few more days, for the hotel workers are determined to gain better salary and health benefits. Meanwhile, hotels will continue serving guests as usual.