WEST HOLLYWOOD—On Thursday, August 26, members of Unite Here Local 11 voted to authorize an employee strike against the Hyatt Hotels. The two Hyatt’s affected are both in the Los Angeles area: the Hyatt Andaz, located on the Sunset Strip, and the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza in Century City. Unite Here is a coalition representing workers in a broad range of fields from Airports to Laundry, Food Service and Hospitality.
In June, about 400 workers went back to work at the Hyatt Regency in San Francisco after a three-day strike. The strike coincided with the contract renewal negotiations as the contract expires in August. The following month, on July 22, workers at the Hyatt Andaz took part in a civil disobedience demonstration, which was mirrored at Hyatt locations in 15 cities nationwide as well as in Canada. Almost 1,000 supporters and Hyatt workers were arrested in protests across the country. However, workers have yet to walk out on the job in Los Angeles.
Union members continue to cite the growing sense of discontent, as a result of staff cuts and hour reductions, as the motive for the previous protests and this impending strike. In a press release issued by Unite Here, the group says, “Hotel workers in Los Angeles have endured staff cuts, reduced hours, and excessive injury rates. Frustration among area workers has deepened…”
Like the majority of resorts nationwide, the Hyatt Hotels have experienced the recession. Staff cuts and hour reductions have been associated with the slowing business. Hotel owners continue to express their desire to meet union members at the negotiation table and sort out the dispute; however, Union members are still dissatisfied with the results.
Leigh Sheldon works with Unite Here in Los Angeles and agreed to speak with Canyon News. She said that in Los Angeles, union members have been in negotiations with the Hyatt for about seven months (longer elsewhere in the country). However, things have stalled, “What we are seeing across the country, is the Hyatt has chosen to fight with workers and push back standards.” Sheldon goes on to say that the company is “using the bad economy as an excuse to lock workers into bad contracts.” Sheldon noted that the hospitality industry seems to be in repair. A recent earnings report, issued by the Hyatt Company, cites increases within the last fiscal year; hospitality as an industry has experienced growth as tourism in Southern California stays strong.
The vote authorizes the bargaining committee to call for a strike if and when the time comes. As Sheldon says, strikes are last minute and can be initiated at any time. So while both sides try to reach some sort of middle ground with the contract negotiations, there is still a possibility of a strike at the Hyatts.
