Hotel workers, after leading what they described as the largest hotel strike in modern US history, have ratified a new union contract at 34 hotels with overwhelming support.
The contract includes wage increases, benefits, and rights for workers. By the end of the contract, workers will earn an average of 40%-50% more in wages and the union representing workers said the increase will guarantee workers can afford housing in their communities where rents are rising. Additionally, workers will maintain low-cost healthcare for themselves and their families. The contract also includes provisions for fair workloads, pre-pandemic staffing guarantees, and automatic daily room cleaning.
According to a statement provided by the union representing workers, room Attendants at most hotels will earn $35.00 per hour, or $73,000 per year, by July 1, 2027. Top cooks will earn $41 per hour, or $85,000 per year. With benefits, a hotel will pay $100,000 per year to employ a Room Attendant.
“The healthcare we were able to keep for me is life-saving. I was able to beat cancer thanks to the medical care I received, and because of that I found the strength to beat this fight too. To my colleagues who continue to fight for a contract, let’s not give up. We are going to support them until the end,” said Arturo Huezo, houseman at the Fairmont Miramar Santa Monica for 30 years in a statement.
Workers have been protesting at hotels throughout the region since July 4 of last year. Unite Here Local 11 represents about 15,000 hotel and hospitality workers in California, including room attendants, dishwashers, cooks, front desk attendants, bellmen, cooks and dishwashers.
While a group of hotels have signed a deal with the union in the past six months including Le Merigot Santa Monica and the Fairmont Miramar, other local hotels have yet to reach an agreement.
Protests outside the Fairmont were controversial. Union members accused the hotel of instigating violence against protesters and that incident prompted calls for government intervention by union supporters. However, residents living near the hotel repeatedly attended council meetings to demand government intervention against the union saying the noise generated by protests violated local noise ordinances.
According to the union, protests will continue at hotels who have yet to come to an agreement, including several in Santa Monica.
“We – the entire city – owe them an enormous debt for their courage, and it is the only reason why we have prevailed and it is the reason why we have given hope to all working people that they too can win a living wage,” said Kurt Petersen, co-president of UNITE HERE Local 11. “Aimbridge, Hotel Maya, Hotel Figueroa and every greedy hotel who is still failing to meet the new standard, listen up! We are not stopping until all workers get what they deserve.”
The new contract expires in January of 2028, about six months before the start of the Los Angeles Olympics and Unite Here said their next effort is to secure an Olympic Minimum Wage for the event.
matt@smdp.com