Latino Leaders Call on Community To Fight
For Hotel Workers' Dignity
Don't Eat, Sleep or Meet At Hotels Until Fair Contract Is Reached

A broad coalition of Mexican, Salvadoran and other Central American organization along with Mexican Consul Ruben Beltran urged communities to stay away from nine luxury hotels involved in a bitter labor dispute.

Leaders urged the Latino community at large to avoid eating, sleeping or meeting at any of the nine "premiere" hotels and avoid being a replacement workers. In addition, leaders vowed to pull their business from the hotels until a fair resolution is reached.

"We can not afford to be an obstacle for our own people in their fight for dignity" said Dolores Huerta, co-founder of the United Farm Workers of America and a board member of the Feminist Majority. "In our need to provide for our families we can not trample our own people, especially those who are fighting to be treated justly, do not do business in these hotels until a contract is settled."

Huerta was joined by leaders from numerous Mexican and Central American organizations, including CARECEN, SALEF, CHIRLA, Hermandad Mexicana, Federacion de Nayaritas en USA, Federacion de Clubes Zacatecanos del Sur de California, Federacion de Clubes Jaliscienses, and Consejo de Federaciones Mexicanas. Also participating were Father Arnold Abelardo, pastor of La Placita, Father Mike Gutierrez, President of Priests in Hispanic Ministry, Rev. Francisco Canas of First United Methodist Church of Los Angeles, Rev. Andre Feijo of Pacoima United Methodist Church, Rev. Cesar Arroyo of Iglesia Luterana San Pablo de North Hollywood and Ricardo Zelada of Trinity Episcopal Church, along with several hotel workers.

Over the past few months, many local and national organizations have already moved their events to other venues. Carlos Vaquerano, executive director of the Salvadoran American Legal and Education Foundation, urged others to follow his group's decision to relocate an upcoming fundraiser.

"We have officially have moved our annual event to Our Lady of Angeles Cathedral in support of the great majority of Salvadoran housekeepers, bellman and other workers serving at the Wilshire Grand," said Vaquerano

"My organization will not cross a picket line or patronize a hotel while our brothers and sisters are being denied the wages, benefits and working conditions they deserve. We must stand together as one community until the hotels sign a fair contract," Vaquerano added.

Nearly 3,000 Los Angeles hotel workers have been without a contract for several months and, in response to the threat of a lockout and many alleged unfair labor practices, have authorized a strike if necessary. The workers are demanding an end to the hotels' unfair conduct and better wages, benefits and working conditions, as well as a contract expiration date that is the same as other major US and Canadian cities, that will enable them to move from poverty into the middle class.

The hotels involved in the labor dispute are the Bonaventure, Wilshire Grand, Hyatt Regency, Biltmore, Sheraton Universal, Century Plaza, St. Regis, Hyatt West Hollywood and Regent Beverly Wilshire

Other leaders emphasized the call against taking replacement jobs should there be a strike or lockout. "We will not let the hotel industry turn us against each other," said Gloria Saucedo of Hermandad Mexicana. "By refusing to take replacement jobs, we can improve the quality of jobs for everyone in our community."

Community leaders and residents throughout Los Angeles are rallying behind the hotel workers. Last week, African-American and Asian American leaders held press conferences to call upon their community not to take replacement jobs or cross picket lines in the event of a lockout or strike, while elected officials joined with religious leaders in "Hungry for Justice," a citywide effort to collect food for workers and their families.