The union representing workers in contentious contract negotiations with nine local hotels said it would file a lawsuit today against Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide Inc. alleging unfair job practices.

The lawsuit will accuse two hotels managed by Starwood, the St. Regis and the Westin Century Plaza, of failing to give workers mandatory meal and rest breaks because of "nonstop work schedules and chronic staff shortages," according to an advisory released Wednesday by the union, Unite Here Local 11. Failure to grant such breaks violates the California labor code and state Industrial Welfare Commission orders, the union said.

A lawyer involved in the case said that class-action status would be sought for about 1,000 current and former employees of the two hotels. The suit, to be filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, would seek substantial but as yet unspecified damages, the lawyer said.

Fred Muir, a spokesman for the nine hotels, said he hadn't seen the suit and couldn't comment.

The other hotels involved in the labor negotiations are the Hyatt Regency Los Angeles, Hyatt West Hollywood, Millennium Biltmore, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Sheraton Universal, Westin Bonaventure and Wilshire Grand.

Starwood manages the Sheraton Universal. The Westin Bonaventure is a franchise of Starwood, but the company doesn't manage it. Neither hotel would be named in the lawsuit, the union said.

The contract talks, which began in March, were placed on hold this week while both sides talked separately with the directors of the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service.

Unite Here spokeswoman Hilda Delgado said the union had been working on the lawsuit for several months.

Among the things the union is seeking in the labor negotiations is a short two-year contract whose end would coincide with the end of contracts in eight other cities and Hawaii. The union wants that additional clout for the next round of contract talks.

The nine hotels have said they would not accept less than a five-year contract.

More News About the Los Angeles Hotel Workers' Struggle for a Fair Contract >>