More LA Area Housekeepers Stage Walkout

According to the Los Angeles Times, thousands of hotel workers, including housekeepers, walked off their jobs near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) on Monday, demanding higher pay and better benefits.

Monday’s strike by UNITE HERE Local 11-represented workers involved the following hotels: Aloft El Segundo-Los Angeles Airport, Fairfield Inn & Suites by Marriott Los Angeles LAX/El Segundo, Four Points by Sheraton Los Angeles International Airport Hilton Garden Inn LAX/El Segundo, Holiday Inn Los Angeles LAX Airport, Hotel June West LA, Sheraton Gateway Los Angeles Hotel, and the Westin Los Angeles Airport.

“LAX has the largest concentration of hotels in the state in one block. It’s the gateway to the city. Those workers used to live in Inglewood and surrounding areas, and they’ve been completely priced out and they’re heading more inland. The fight continues until we win a wage that will allow them to live here where they work,” Kurt Petersen, UNITE HERE Local 11 co-president, told the Times.

The union is seeking US$5 hourly wage increase immediately, with an additional $3 annually over three years. Keith Grossman, an attorney representing the hotel coalition, told the Times that the hotels have proposed a raise of $2.50 an hour in the first 12 months and $6.25 over four years. According to Grossman, the union has yet to respond.

This strike followed another three-day walkout by hotel workers that occurred over the July 4th holiday weekend in downtown Los Angeles and its surrounding area.