Union Kicks Off Four-Day Campaign Against Loews Hotel

By Lookout Staff

Union organizers plan to turn up the heat on the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel this week with a four-day campaign starting Monday that includes marches, billboards, picket lines and street theater.

The coordinated series of actions - sponsored by the Santa Monica and Los Angeles branches of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union - will span both cities but will focus on the battle at the Loews Hotel, where some 30 workers publicly launched an organizing campaign a month ago.

Organizers of the four-day campaign hope to highlight the obstacles facing workers who are trying to unionize the luxury beachfront hotel. Earlier this month, the local union filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging more than 20 violations of labor law, including threats of firing, arrest and death.

Organizers expect that the number of participants in the actions will range from 75 to many hundreds. The exact location of some of the actions will not be disclosed in advance.

Following is a daily list of events.

Monday June 26
Morning: Billboards and banners on freeway off ramps and certain streets in Los Angeles and Santa Monica
Noon: Street theater and other actions at Loews Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue Afternoon: March from Santa Monica Pier to Loews Hotel

Tuesday June 27
Morning: Large action at Loews Hotel, 1700 Ocean Avenue
Noon: Large action in downtown Los Angeles
Afternoon: Car caravan in Santa Monica, rally at Santa Monica City Council

Wednesday June 28
Morning: Billboards and banners at freeway off ramps and certain streets in Los Angeles and Santa Monica
Noon: Actions against the business-backed proposed "Living Wage" initiative for Santa Monica
Afternoon: Big march in downtown Los Angeles

Thursday June 29
Morning: Picket line at Loews, 1700 Ocean Avenue
Late morning: Major action at Loews.