Hotel workers in L.A went on strike on July 2 because they wanted higher pay and more benefits. The strike happened right before the spike in tourists on July 4.
Hotel workers are frustrated with the low pay and their inability to stay in LA. This is because rent is high, and food is expensive in LA.
Diana Rios-Sanchez works as a housekeeping supervisor at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. She often wonders how long she and her three children, who live in a one-bedroom apartment, can stay in the city before having to move. “We take care of tourists, but no one takes care of us,” says Rios-Sanchez.
Hotel workers have not been the only ones who have gone on strike recently in LA. Housekeepers and Hollywood writers have also gone on strike recently. High costs of living have made it difficult for many workers to afford living in LA.
Representatives for hotels have accused worker’s unions of striking to disrupt operations. “The hotels want to continue to provide strong wages, affordable quality family health care and a pension,” Keith Grossman, a spokesman for the coordinated bargaining group consisting of more than 40 Los Angeles and Orange County hotels, said in a statement.
The union has asked that hourly wages, which range from $20 to $25, increase by $5. Then, for the next 3 years, the hourly wage increase by $3 every year. Hotels have offered to pay housekeepers, who make $25 an hour right now, to be paid $31 an hour by January 2027.
The strike will go on for “multiple days” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, the union representing the workers, said. The hotel association of LA has said that hotels can and will be continuing to serve customers.
Hotel workers are frustrated with the low pay and their inability to stay in LA. This is because rent is high, and food is expensive in LA.
Diana Rios-Sanchez works as a housekeeping supervisor at the InterContinental Los Angeles Downtown. She often wonders how long she and her three children, who live in a one-bedroom apartment, can stay in the city before having to move. “We take care of tourists, but no one takes care of us,” says Rios-Sanchez.
Hotel workers have not been the only ones who have gone on strike recently in LA. Housekeepers and Hollywood writers have also gone on strike recently. High costs of living have made it difficult for many workers to afford living in LA.
Representatives for hotels have accused worker’s unions of striking to disrupt operations. “The hotels want to continue to provide strong wages, affordable quality family health care and a pension,” Keith Grossman, a spokesman for the coordinated bargaining group consisting of more than 40 Los Angeles and Orange County hotels, said in a statement.
The union has asked that hourly wages, which range from $20 to $25, increase by $5. Then, for the next 3 years, the hourly wage increase by $3 every year. Hotels have offered to pay housekeepers, who make $25 an hour right now, to be paid $31 an hour by January 2027.
The strike will go on for “multiple days” Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, the union representing the workers, said. The hotel association of LA has said that hotels can and will be continuing to serve customers.
