Worker Profile: Enedina Alvarez’s Story

Worker Profiles

For over 20 years, Isabel “Segunda” Brentner has worked at the LAX Hilton, keeping her focus on her family and her job. “My priorities [were] to help my family,” says Brentner, who, along with raising her own children, cared for both her father and grandmother when they were ill. More

Enedina Alvarez, a 54-year-old single parent, says she must be both mother and father to her teenage children. Yet, with two jobs, she has barely enough money to house, feed and clothe them—and precious little time to spend with them. Although she receives health insurance through her job, she cannot afford to insure her children. Alvarez says, “I pray to God that my kids do not get sick because I cannot pay the medical bills.” More

Who Are Hotel Housekeepers?*

Nearly all hotel housekeepers are women. The majority are women of color and immigrants.

There are 1.3 million hotel workers in the U.S. and 280,000 in Canada, of whom approximately one quarter are housekeepers.

Hotel Housekeeper Work Is Dangerous Work

Hotel workers have a 40% higher injury rate (5.9%) than workers in the service sector (4.2%).

According to a recent study of company records covering thousands of employee injuries, hotel housekeepers face an injury rate of 10.4%, almost double the injury rate for non-housekeepers (5.6%).

Hotel housekeeper injuries are debilitating. Back injuries, housemaids' knee (bursitis), and shoulder pain can lead to permanent disability.

*UNITE HERE

Why We Need A

"PLAN FOR A
NEW CENTURY"

A new white paper calls on the city of Los Angeles and industry leaders to invest in the Century Corridor and its workforce. A Plan for a New Century will benefit workers, communities, hotels and the entire city. More

Worker Profile: Enedina’s Story

Enedina Alvarez, a 54-year-old single parent, says she must be both mother and father to her teenage children. Yet, with two jobs, she has barely enough money to house, feed and clothe them—and precious little time to spend with them.

By day, Alvarez is a room attendant at the Westin Los Angeles Airport hotel, a full time job that pays her about $1,200 a month after taxes and deductions. In the evenings, she cleans office buildings, earning an additional $45 a night.

Alvarez chokes back tears when she thinks of the toll her schedule takes on her family. She spends only about one hour a night with her 17-year-old daughter and 14-year-old son, enough time to check to see if they are doing homework and to bring them some fast food. “The kids tell me, ‘All the mothers stay with their kids,’” she says. “I want to spend more time with them. But if I leave my evening job, I can’t afford to pay the rent.” Alvarez pays $800 a month for her family’s one-bedroom Hawthorne apartment.

Although Alvarez receives health insurance through her job, she cannot afford to insure her children. “I pray to God that my kids do not get sick because I cannot pay the medical bills,” Alvarez says.

Alvarez would like a more “just salary,” affordable health insurance and a safe work environment. The Westin’s so-called “Heavenly Bed” of five plush pillows, a comforter, a duvet, a down blanket, three sheets and a custom-designed pillow-top mattress is intended to lure weary travelers to the hotel, but it is hard on the backs and arms of the women who make them.

She said many room attendants continue to work with injuries, and supervisors show little concern for employees. “They treat the workers without respect,” she says.