ACTION ALERT: We need your help putting public pressure on the City of Santa Monica to investigate the exploitation of unhoused workers brought in to replace striking workers at Le Meridien Delfina; and company retaliation against striking workers at the Viceroy and Le Meridien Delfina.
Since Spring of 2023, faith leaders and community members have been accompanying hospitality workers across Southern California in their struggle to be able to live where they work and to help build healthier communities for all of us.
As we move through the first month of 2024, we want to share some great news and the continued struggle.
Victories #26-29!
Together we win!
We are so pleased to share the great news that four more hotels have tentative agreements with workers, offering living wages and benefits that will make all of our communities healthier.
We will continue standing with hospitality workers until victory for all is won.
Victory #25!
After six months of strikes and picket lines, the Fairmont Miramar & Bungalows joined the list of hotels signing tentative agreements with workers.
The hotel also signed on to support the City of Santa Monica investigation into violence and retaliation against striking workers.
CLUE is so grateful to the Santa Monica Committee, including faith leaders and members from Beth Shir Shalom, St. Augustine’s By-The-Sea Episcopal Church, St. Monica’s Catholic Church, the Church in Ocean Park, Santa Monica Friends Meeting, Temple Isaiah, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Santa Monica, along with community leaders and activists, for their steadfast solidarity and continued commitment while other hotels continue to hold out.
Victories #21-24!
We are thrilled to share that just before Christmas, the InterContinental Downtown Los Angeles, Hotel Indigo DTLA, E-Central DTLA and the Sheraton Gateway LAX signed tentative agreements with UNITE HERE Local 11.
Once the contract is ratified, the workers at the properties will enjoy the standard achieved in the previous tentative agreements, including:
- Wage increases that keep pace with the soaring cost of housing
- Affordable, excellent family healthcare
- Humane workloads and safe staffing
- Improved pension increases so that workers can retire with dignity
- and more
Victory for Belén!
Belén was among the 1,700+ workers whose employers settled a contract that offers fair pay and just working conditions.
THIS IS THE POWER of sacred solidarity.
When Belén shared her story this summer with a room full of folks gathered on a day of fasting, she said:
“That you are here fasting for us makes me believe in God even more. Because if we are together and you are with us, I know God is with us and we will win….
“I’ll be so happy when we win. And we’re going to win.”
Victories 11-20!
The latest agreements cover more than 1,700 workers at the Irvine Marriott, W Los Angeles — West Beverly Hills, SLS Hotel Beverly Hills, Westin Los Angeles Airport, Sheraton Grand Los Angeles, JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A Live, Ritz-Carlton Los Angeles, Courtyard Los Angeles L.A. Live, Residence Inn Los Angeles L.A. Live and the Hilton Irvine.
Sacred Solidarity over the holidays
Honoring the Christian traditions of Mary and Joseph’s search for shelter and hospitality as they prepared for the birth of the baby Jesus, CLUE joined the workers of the Sheraton Gateway and Four Points by Sheraton LAX. Faith leaders and workers marched from one hotel to the other, sang, chanted, and reenacted the story, as it resonated with their own cause of justice for migrants, and a just and life-changing contract that would allow them to afford living in Southern California.
And at the end, just as we prepared to enjoy the champurrado, hot cider and conchas, we celebrated the news that the workers at the Beverly Hilton had won a tentative contract, just in time for the awards season! Solidarity is contagious, and all the workers know in their hearts and their faith that they will win their own victory soon!
Posadas followed in Santa Monica and Pasadena, in the hopes that hotel owners would come to the table.
