Elected officials today announced their vigorous support for the "Hungry for Justice" community campaign to collect needed food and household staples for the families of hotel workers to prepare for a possible lockout or strike at one or all of the nine luxury hotels which comprise the Los Angeles Hotel Employers Council.

Two dozen elected officials, including Mayor Jim Hahn and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nunez, have agreed to set up collection bins in their offices.

Los Angeles City Council President Alex Padilla was the first to deposit food in one of the bins, which are decorated with the photos of hotel workers.

"The leadership of Los Angeles stands behind the Hungry for Justice campaign, because we want to ensure that hotel workers can provide for their families," said Alex Padilla. "We are telling the hotel industry and the world today that Los Angeles will not stand idly by. We will give as much - and as long - as we need to in order to provide for our brothers and sisters who staff our hotels in Los Angeles."

Also speaking at the press conference were Councilmembers Martin Ludlow, Ed Reyes, Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry, along with City Controller Laura Chick and State Senator Richard Alarcon.

The Hungry for Justice campaign began during the Easter/Passover season, with over 45 religious congregations throughout Los Angeles taking collection bins and requesting donations of rice, beans, baby formula, diapers, toothpaste and laundry detergent from their members. These donations are continuing to come in from the participating congregations and are being collected by volunteers.

"We have a moral responsibility to take care of those in need," said Rev. Alexia Salvatierra, executive director of Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice (CLUE), which organized the Hungry for Justice campaign. "The congregations and communities of Los Angeles will ensure that hotel workers and their families do not go without as they fight for justice."

Nearly 3,000 Los Angeles hotel workers have been without a contract for several months and, in response to the threat of a lockout, have authorized a strike if necessary. The workers are demanding better wages, benefits and working conditions, as well as a national voice that will enable them to move from poverty into the middle class.

The Employer Council hotels include the Bonaventure, Wilshire Grand, Hyatt Regency, Biltmore, Sheraton Universal, Century Plaza, St. Regis, Hyatt West Hollywood and Regent Beverly Wilshire.

Food and monetary donations for hotel workers can be made by contacting CLUE at 213-239-6770 or going to their website at www.cluela.org.