Worker Profiles
Isabel 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 AlvarezEnedina 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
Coalition for a New Century

Suspended Workers Protest Hilton Hotel
The Associated Press - May 15, 2006

More than 100 suspended workers and their allies picketed at the Hilton Los Angeles Airport hotel Sunday to protest working conditions and demand their jobs back.

About 75 hotel workers were suspended Thursday.

A coordinator for hotel workers union Unite Here says the hotel's management suspended the employees in an effort to keep them from unionizing.

Regional coordinator Paulina Gonzalez says they were suspended when they complained to management about disciplinary action against a leader in the workers' effort to organize.

That leader, Sergio Reyes, was suspended, then fired.

Hilton executives have declined to discuss the case.

Featured Video
Spanish TV Coverage of LA Hotel Housekeepers' Oct 25 March & Rally

A Living Wage
Get the Facts

LAX Hilton Boycott
Twenty-seven people were arrested in front of the Hilton LAX recently as 400 supporters watched. More
LAANE deputy director Vivian Rothstein explains why political and community leaders in Los Angeles and around the region are boycotting the LAX Hilton hotel. Listen


Watch The Slide Video Show of the Oct. 25 Actions!

 

Creating Luxury Enduring Pain

Study Exposes The Dangers of Hotel Housekeeping - Read