Hundreds of Hotel Workers From Across the City to Rally at LAX Hilton to Support Suspended Workers
Labor Desk
May 15, 2006
Lost Wages Could Hurt Families as Standoff Reaches Day 5.
Security Officers Deny Workers Entrance to Property to Inquire About Returning to Jobs.
Hundreds of hotel workers from around the city will be joined by elected officials, clergy, and community members at a rally today at 5:00PM at the LAX Hilton in support of the approximately 75 workers that were suspended five days ago. Earlier today suspended workers attempted to inquire about when they would return to work but security officers refused to allow them onto the property.
The workers, most of whom are immigrants, have been suspended without pay indefinitely. The suspensions came one day after workers, their children and community leaders held a Mother’s Day action at the Hilton to draw attention to the grueling working conditions and high injury rates endured by housekeepers.
LAX Hilton workers do not have the protections that a union and contract provide, yet they have bravely been standing up to their management demanding the right to organize.
The suspended workers allege that the hotel retaliated against them for engaging in a legally protected work stoppage in response to disciplinary action by the hotel against a co-worker. Workers allege that the hotel retaliated against the disciplined employee for exercising legally protected rights. Last week, labor, community and immigrant rights leaders held a press conference condemning the alleged mistreatment of immigrant workers at another Hilton hotel, the Glendale Hilton. The NLRB has filed a complaint against the Glendale Hilton for alleged intimidation and harassment of workers.
2006 is a very important year for hotel workers and the industry. The industry is predicting record profits, while contracts covering 60,000 hotel workers will expire in several major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada (see details at www.hotelworkersrising.org). Analysts and others who follow the industry have been wondering how these labor issues will affect business travel and the summer travel season, frequently asking if workers will strike. However, this action, as well as a seven-week lockout of hundreds of hotel workers in San Francisco in 2004, show that the hotel corporations are willing to force workers off of the job as part of their anti-worker tactics. Whether this pattern will continue throughout the country as contracts expire remains to be seen.
Security Officers Deny Workers Entrance to Property to Inquire About Returning to Jobs.
Hundreds of hotel workers from around the city will be joined by elected officials, clergy, and community members at a rally today at 5:00PM at the LAX Hilton in support of the approximately 75 workers that were suspended five days ago. Earlier today suspended workers attempted to inquire about when they would return to work but security officers refused to allow them onto the property.
The workers, most of whom are immigrants, have been suspended without pay indefinitely. The suspensions came one day after workers, their children and community leaders held a Mother’s Day action at the Hilton to draw attention to the grueling working conditions and high injury rates endured by housekeepers.
LAX Hilton workers do not have the protections that a union and contract provide, yet they have bravely been standing up to their management demanding the right to organize.
The suspended workers allege that the hotel retaliated against them for engaging in a legally protected work stoppage in response to disciplinary action by the hotel against a co-worker. Workers allege that the hotel retaliated against the disciplined employee for exercising legally protected rights. Last week, labor, community and immigrant rights leaders held a press conference condemning the alleged mistreatment of immigrant workers at another Hilton hotel, the Glendale Hilton. The NLRB has filed a complaint against the Glendale Hilton for alleged intimidation and harassment of workers.
2006 is a very important year for hotel workers and the industry. The industry is predicting record profits, while contracts covering 60,000 hotel workers will expire in several major cities throughout the U.S. and Canada (see details at www.hotelworkersrising.org). Analysts and others who follow the industry have been wondering how these labor issues will affect business travel and the summer travel season, frequently asking if workers will strike. However, this action, as well as a seven-week lockout of hundreds of hotel workers in San Francisco in 2004, show that the hotel corporations are willing to force workers off of the job as part of their anti-worker tactics. Whether this pattern will continue throughout the country as contracts expire remains to be seen.
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