City Council Meeting: August 22, 2023 Santa Monica, California RESOLUTION NUMBER _____ (CCS)
(City Council Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA MONICA DECLARING SUPPORT FOR THE STRIKING WORKERS OF UNITE HERE LOCAL 11 WHEREAS, members of UNITE HERE Local 11, representing over 32,000 Southern California hotel room attendants, cooks, dishwashers, front desk agents, servers and food service workers, voted overwhelmingly to authorize the largest hotel industry strike in U.S. history; WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is home to members of UNITE HERE Local 11; WHEREAS, the City of Santa Monica is strengthened by the labor of UNITE HERE Local 11 members at the Fairmont Miramar Hotel & Bungalows, Viceroy, Hampton Inn & Suites, Courtyard by Marriott and Le Merigot Hotels in Santa Monica and the positive economic and tourism impact created by the labor of these hotel employees;
WHEREAS, while hotels are making large profits in the recovery from the pandemic, yet wages for hotel employees and UNITE HERE Local 11 members have not risen since the pandemic, despite an increase in workload, and striking workers are calling for wages high enough to afford housing in Los Angeles;
WHEREAS, a video taken during a demonstration on August 5 in front of the Fairmont Miramar Hotel in Santa Monica shows workers and supporters were attacked by hotel security as they sought to establish a picket line, despite workers’ legal right to protest for a new contract and fair wages; WHEREAS, hotels can end the 2023 Hotel Workers Strike and restore the comfort of guests who have a reservation or are staying at a hotel affected by strike by meeting workers’ demands.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT:
SECTION I. The City of Santa Monica supports the striking workers of the UNITE HERE Local 11 and urges the hotels that do not have a contract with UNITE HERE Local 11 to negotiate in good faith to reach an agreement that respects and fairly meets the needs of the UNITE HERE Local 11 members.
SECTION II. The City of Santa Monica implores hotels to sign contracts that meet the demands of workers for hourly wage increase to keep pace with the soaring cost of housing; affordable family healthcare; a pension that will enable workers to retire with security, and a safe and humane workload.
SECTION III. The City of Santa Monica further implores hotels to center their negotiations around the recognition that skyrocketing housing costs with stagnating wages are key contributors to the homelessness crisis, and ensuring workers remain housed is vital to addressing this crisis.
SECTION IV. The City Council of the City of Santa Monica urges hotels and UNITE HERE Local 11 to come to an agreement for the hardworking people who have helped our hotels and the Santa Monica tourism industry achieve the financial success they enjoy today.
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
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DOUGLAS SLOAN
City Attorney