Unionized workers at seven major Los Angeles hotels have ratified a new labor contract that expires next year, ending 14 months of negotiations and a boycott of the hotels, the Unite Here union said on Thursday.

The new contract, brokered by Los Angeles Mayor-elect Antonio Villaraigosa, will end at the same time as contracts with hotels in other major cities like New York City, Boston, Chicago, Toronto, Sacramento, Monterey, and Honolulu.

Under the deal, non-tipped hotel employees will get wage increases totaling 65 cents per hour over a 31-month period ending Nov. 30, 2006, with some raises retroactive.

The 2,500 housekeepers, bellhops, servers and other workers will keep current employee benefits and free healthcare will be maintained.

The hotels also agreed to pay $1 million to settle a dispute over the hotels decision last July to collect healthcare premiums from workers, the union said.

The seven hotels, which include properties managed by nationwide chains Starwood Hotels and Resorts Worldwide Inc. and Hyatt Hotels, are the Hyatt West Hollywood, Westin Bonaventure, Sheraton Universal, Regent Beverly Wilshire, Westin Century Plaza, Millennium Biltmore and Wilshire Grand.

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