This week, union workers picketed outside of two hotels near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), striking for better health benefits and higher pay to meet the current cost of living in Los Angeles.
Continuing the fight, UNITE HERE Local 11 union members say that CEOs of major hotels are not listening to their requests. The standard wage for hotel workers in L.A. is $20 to $25 per hour, which they say isn’t enough to cover basic living expenses.
One union worker, Ricardo Blanco, has been a server at the Hyatt Regency LAX for the past 23 years and is using his voice to advocate for higher pay.
“We live in poverty right now because we have to live in a one-bedroom apartment with seven to 10 people,” Blanco said. “Why is it like this? We’re not able to make decent money to simply pay for living expenses.”
Bellmen, servers, dishwashers and other hotel workers are essential to the daily operations of the hospitality industry. Workers have reached agreements with two downtown Los Angeles hotels and are hoping to resume negotiations at LAX hotels. The Hyatt Hotels reached a peak revenue of $5.9 billion in 2022. Hospitality workers of UNITE HERE LOCAL 11 are using their voices to spread awareness as one of the nation’s largest strikes currently with 15,000 workers participating.
Ana Sanchez, a guest services worker at the Sheraton and Gateway Hotel near LAX, explained how low wages and health insurance costs are affecting her ability to pay for prescriptions. She currently only makes $19 an hour, which isn’t enough as an older woman who cares for a family member.
“It’s really affecting me, especially because of my age. I have high blood pressure and I need to pay for my medication,” Sanchez said. “I also take care of my daughter. She has health issues and needs access to medication.”
Unite Here Local 11 has been picketing since July and has proposed contract agreements with The Biltmore and the Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites in Downtown Los Angeles that still have yet to be ratified. The workers are advocating for five pillars: fair workloads, higher wages, pensions, health insurance and affordable housing.
With lines wrapped around the corner, in the parking lot and at multiple entrances – members of the union stood in solidarity on Oct. 9 as they blasted blow horns and waved picket signs that said “On Strike.”
The union also has a mascot by the name of Scabby the Rat, a reference to people who do not participate or stand with union members. Scabby the Rat is often placed directly in front of the hotels.
The Hyatt Regency of LAX did respond to requests for comment. According to Blanco, several hotels within LA County and Orange County have denied multiple requests for renegotiation of workers’ contracts in the past three months.
“People are going to continue to picket and have been picketing before work, during the breaks, and after work,” Hernandez said. “They’re going to continue to let the boss know that what you’re doing is not right.