Skift Take
A second wave of hotel worker strikes is impacting additional meetings near the Los Angeles International Airport. The Westin Bonaventure is the only major hotel to have reached a tentative deal so far.
As promised, a second wave of hotel worker strikes is underway in Southern California, impacting additional meeting and convention groups. Most of the properties affected by this wave are near Los Angeles International Airport.
Contracts expired June 30 at 61 Southern California hotels, including the Fairmont Miramar in Santa Monica, the Beverly Wilshire in Beverly Hills, the JW Marriott LA Live in downtown Los Angeles, the Sheraton Universal in Universal City, and the Laguna Cliffs Marriott in Dana Point.
Thousands of cooks, room attendants, dishwashers, servers, bellmen, and front desk agents walked out as part of the hotel strike, seeking higher pay and improved benefits.
Strike Impacts More Meetings
The Democratic Governors Association had its Summer Policy Conference scheduled at the Beverly Hilton on July 24-25. Employees at this property are on strike, and crossing the picket line is problematic. Governor Gavin Newsom has said he will not attend as he will not cross the picket line.
Unite Here Local 11 leaders responded by asking the Democratic governors to join them on the picket line.
COMTO, the Conference of Minority Transportation Officials, has its annual conference at the Intercontinental Los Angeles Downtown this week, one of the hotels impacted by the strike. According to Unite Here Local 11, the conference pulled out of several activities taking place at the hotel. Unite Here Local 11 also stated that COMTO encouraged attendees to stay at the nearby Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites. The Westin is the only major hotel to have reached a tentative deal. It has agreed to provide higher pay and benefits for its more than 600 workers.
