June 22, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

UNITE Here Local 11 Has Called A Hotel Workers Strike After The Contracts Expired On June 30

The Strike Started On July 2, and Picket Lines Will Be Active All Over Town

By Dolores Quintana

As we reported last week, UNITE Here Local 11 was considering a strike because of the deadline for the union contract’s expiration on June 30, 2023. The strike was officially called on July 2, this weekend, and union workers and leaders have been walking the picket line at hotels all over the city. The press release from the union stated, “This morning, thousands of cooks, room attendants, dishwashers, servers, bellmen, and front desk agents at multiple properties walked out on the largest multi-hotel strike in the union’s history.”

At 11:30 a.m. on Monday, July 3, UNITE Here 11 held a meeting in front of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel. Union leaders from all over the country and two Santa Monica City Council members were in attendance, Caroline Torosis and Jesse Zwick; they all spoke before the crowd of union members. Members of other local unions, like the Writers Guild West, were there to support the strike as well.

At the picket line in front of the hotel, I spoke to Liliana Hernandez, one of the housekeepers at the hotel:

Dolores Quintana: Please tell me a little bit about yourself. 

Liliana Hernandez: My name is Liliana Hernandez, and I have been a housekeeper at the Fairmont Miramar since 2012.

Dolores Quintana: Okay, and could you tell me a little bit about why you’re on strike?

LH: We are on strike because the company hasn’t signed the contract. We’ve been asking them to sign it since April 20. They didn’t show up to the negotiations once, and the other issue is that they haven’t offered enough to keep up with our insurance, the pension, and especially the wages we are asking for.

Dolores Quintana: I know it’s really expensive to live in Los Angeles City, LA County, in Santa Monica in particular, very expensive. Are you able to live in Santa Monica?

LH: No, I don’t live in Santa Monica. I live in East Hollywood, and I spent almost two hours getting here by bus. Because the rent is so expensive in Santa Monica, we couldn’t afford it. Not any one of us we could not afford to live here on the wages that we are paid now. 

Dolores Quintana: You bring up a good point; even on mass transit, it still takes a long time to get anywhere and two hours both ways on public transit. That’s pretty tough. 

LH: Yeah. It’s really tough for us. 

Dolores Quintana: Especially since it’s not always on time. What do you want from your employer?

LH: We want what is fair, for our wages. What we deserve. After Covid, it’s been a rough time for everyone. They get millions of dollars in PPP loans, and we didn’t get any of that. So they say, “Oh, we’re family. We appreciate your work.” Show that to us. Sign the contract right away. They have the pen.

Dolores Quintana: You want the hotel owners to show you you are family rather than just telling you you are.

LH: Yes.

in News
Related Posts

LA City Councilwomen Yaroslavsky and Jurado Call for Legal Action Against Federal Immigration Raids

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

City Motion Targets Alleged Unconstitutional Tactics, End Qualified Immunity for Fed Officers  City Councilmembers Katy Yaroslavsky and Ysabel Jurado introduced...

Weekend Lane Closures on PCH in Malibu Could Snarl Summer Beach Traffic

June 21, 2025

June 21, 2025

Army Corps Work Triggers Weekend Closure on Pacific Coast Highway Motorists traveling along Pacific Coast Highway this weekend should prepare...

All Aboard to LAX: Metro Opens Game-Changing Transit Hub Ahead of Global Events

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

 New LAX/Metro Transit Center Comes Closer to Connecting Metro Directly to LAX The Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)...

Princess Diana’s Largest Wardrobe Auction Set for Beverly Hills

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Over 200 Royal Garments to Hit the Auction Block for Charity More than 200 garments and royal artifacts, including the...

Queer Beauty Through the Ages: Getty Hosts Lecture on Greek Art’s Influence on LGBTQ Aesthetics

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Art Historian to Trace Homoerotic Imagery From Ancient Greece to Modern Queer Identity As part of its ongoing Pride Month...

Food Fight on the Venice Boardwalk: Chefs Stand Up for Immigrants with Food

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Turk’s Pizza Party Rallies Top Local Eateries for an Immigrant Rights Fundraiser In a bold display of culinary activism, Turk’s...

Navy Vietnam Vet Finally Gets His UCLA Commencement Moment

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

John Fong, 80, Missed His Graduation in 1968 While in Vietnam  Nearly six decades after completing his studies, U.S. Navy...

Culver City Launches Solidarity Campaign Alongside Hate Crimes Report Presentation

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

Join City Leaders on June 24 for a Community Presentation on Rising Hate Incidents Local officials and residents are invited...

Films, Flair, and Panoramas: Free Cultural Events Light Up The Ebell This Week

June 20, 2025

June 20, 2025

The Ebell Theatre Hosts a Double Feature of Films, Plus a Coffee Talk A pair of free public events this...

Culver City Police Nab Two Suspects in Canterbury Drive Burglary Case

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Community Tip and Set Investigation Lead to Arrest of Repeat Offenders Culver City police have arrested two suspects in connection...

9th Circuit Court Backs Trump in Battle Over California National Guard Control

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Federal Judges Allow Trump to Retain Command of Troops in Los Angeles Federal judges on Thursday cleared the way for...

Nightly I-405 Lane Closures Begin June 23 for Sepulveda Pass Rehab

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Caltrans Will Shut Down Select Lanes Nightly Through June 28 The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced overnight lane...

(Video) Where great minds grow at The Willows Community School

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

The Willows, a DK-8 co-educational school, enrolls 474 students from 57+ zip codes annually. As a balanced, progressive educational leader, experiential learning,...

(Video) The Guest List Collab Dinner with Chef Raphael Lunetta and Chef Alan Wong

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Held at Marelle Restaurant at The Sandbourne Hotel in Santa Monica. An Incredible mix of Hawaiian and Santa Monica’s flavors...

Summer Pop-Ups Serve Crullers, Challah Donuts, Croissants, Coffee and Musical Vibes

June 19, 2025

June 19, 2025

Nyletta Nyletta, Challah Dad, Des Croissants Paris Bring Pastry Delights to Culver City A pair of sweet summer pop-ups are...