LAX Four Points Sheraton Reinstates Workers, Calls for Hotels to Abandon Referendum on Living Wage
Labor Desk
December 14, 2006
New Owner Pledges to Pay Living Wage Immediately, Remain Neutral in Organizing Drive.
The operator of the Four Points Sheraton LAX today hotel called on other LAX area hotels to drop their attempt to repeal the city’s new living wage law for Century Boulevard hotel workers. He also announced that 12 workers who were told earlier this week they no longer have jobs would be rehired immediately with back pay, pledged to pay his employees the city’s living wage and promised to remain neutral should his employees choose to organize.
Michael Gallegos, the CEO of American Property Management Corporation, made the announcement at a press conference with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl, Janice Hahn, Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes, L.A. County Federation of Labor Maria Elena Durazo and the workers who will be reinstated.
I ask all my fellow hotel operators to abandon this effort to referendize the living wage,” said Gallegos. “You are on the wrong side of this issue—get on board.”
American Property Management, which is based in San Diego and operates 43 hotels, took control of the Four Points Sheraton LAX on December 12.
I am embarrassed that my fellow hotels are trying to gather signatures to overturn this living wage,” said Gallegos. “I am embarrassed that they don’t feel it’s important to provide a living wage to workers.”
Today’s announcement came after efforts by numerous political and labor leaders to resolve the situation, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmembers Rosendahl, Hahn, Reyes and Huizar and the County Federation of Labor’s Durazo, along with Council President Eric Garcetti and Council Pro Tem Wendy Greuel.
This company and its CEO have taken a courageous step, and shown by example how businesses, elected officials, labor leaders and workers can come together to make Los Angeles a better city,” said Vivian Rothstein, deputy director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, which helped secure passage of the living wage law. “Now it's time for the other LAX hotels to heed his call and drop their attempt to repeal the living wage law, which will help lift hard-working men and women out of poverty.”
Last month, the City Council passed a living wage law that will raise pay for 3,500 workers at 13 hotels near LAX, where employees earn 20% less than those at hotels in downtown L.A. The legislation, signed by Villaraigosa on November 27, includes a provision prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers for advocating for the living wage.
The Council also passed a worker retention ordinance designed to ensure that workers would not lose their jobs when hotels are sold.
The living wage and worker retention laws are both scheduled to take effect December 30 unless challenged.
Hotels and other business groups are trying to repeal the living wage ordinance by collecting signatures for a ballot referendum. This is one of the few attempts to overturn living wage legislation, which has been enacted by more than 150 U.S. cities and counties over the past 12 years.
The repeal effort has triggered a strong response from state and national leaders. Twenty-two California congressional representatives have urged the hotels to drop the referendum, while former Senator John Edwards and SEIU President Andy Stern have expressed support for the living wage law.
Today’s developments come two days after the conclusion of a seven-day fast by workers at various Century Boulevard hotels in support of the living wage law.
Barbara J. Moore, who has worked at the Four Points for 8 years and earns $9.50 an hour as a PBX operator, praised the company for its decision.
It takes real leadership and vision to do what this company and its owners have done. I hope that the other hotels will listen to their call, and respect the right of workers to earn a living wage and provide a better life to their families.”
The operator of the Four Points Sheraton LAX today hotel called on other LAX area hotels to drop their attempt to repeal the city’s new living wage law for Century Boulevard hotel workers. He also announced that 12 workers who were told earlier this week they no longer have jobs would be rehired immediately with back pay, pledged to pay his employees the city’s living wage and promised to remain neutral should his employees choose to organize.
Michael Gallegos, the CEO of American Property Management Corporation, made the announcement at a press conference with Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, City Councilmembers Bill Rosendahl, Janice Hahn, Jose Huizar and Ed Reyes, L.A. County Federation of Labor Maria Elena Durazo and the workers who will be reinstated.
I ask all my fellow hotel operators to abandon this effort to referendize the living wage,” said Gallegos. “You are on the wrong side of this issue—get on board.”
American Property Management, which is based in San Diego and operates 43 hotels, took control of the Four Points Sheraton LAX on December 12.
I am embarrassed that my fellow hotels are trying to gather signatures to overturn this living wage,” said Gallegos. “I am embarrassed that they don’t feel it’s important to provide a living wage to workers.”
Today’s announcement came after efforts by numerous political and labor leaders to resolve the situation, including Assembly Speaker Fabian Nuñez, Mayor Villaraigosa, Councilmembers Rosendahl, Hahn, Reyes and Huizar and the County Federation of Labor’s Durazo, along with Council President Eric Garcetti and Council Pro Tem Wendy Greuel.
This company and its CEO have taken a courageous step, and shown by example how businesses, elected officials, labor leaders and workers can come together to make Los Angeles a better city,” said Vivian Rothstein, deputy director of the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, which helped secure passage of the living wage law. “Now it's time for the other LAX hotels to heed his call and drop their attempt to repeal the living wage law, which will help lift hard-working men and women out of poverty.”
Last month, the City Council passed a living wage law that will raise pay for 3,500 workers at 13 hotels near LAX, where employees earn 20% less than those at hotels in downtown L.A. The legislation, signed by Villaraigosa on November 27, includes a provision prohibiting employers from retaliating against workers for advocating for the living wage.
The Council also passed a worker retention ordinance designed to ensure that workers would not lose their jobs when hotels are sold.
The living wage and worker retention laws are both scheduled to take effect December 30 unless challenged.
Hotels and other business groups are trying to repeal the living wage ordinance by collecting signatures for a ballot referendum. This is one of the few attempts to overturn living wage legislation, which has been enacted by more than 150 U.S. cities and counties over the past 12 years.
The repeal effort has triggered a strong response from state and national leaders. Twenty-two California congressional representatives have urged the hotels to drop the referendum, while former Senator John Edwards and SEIU President Andy Stern have expressed support for the living wage law.
Today’s developments come two days after the conclusion of a seven-day fast by workers at various Century Boulevard hotels in support of the living wage law.
Barbara J. Moore, who has worked at the Four Points for 8 years and earns $9.50 an hour as a PBX operator, praised the company for its decision.
It takes real leadership and vision to do what this company and its owners have done. I hope that the other hotels will listen to their call, and respect the right of workers to earn a living wage and provide a better life to their families.”
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