In anticipation of the Los Angeles City Council vote on Wednesday, Dec. 11, to increase the minimum wage for tourism workers to $25 per hour, reaching $30 per hour by 2028, workers represented by Unite Here Local 11 and SEIU-USWW have participated in a three-day hunger strike outside of City Hall that ends today.
Dozens of airport and hotel workers are expected to take part in the “spiritual journey of foregoing food and drink in hopes of inspiring… city leaders to stand with them and vote for an improved wage and healthcare benefits,” a union contact said.
Maria Hernandez, with the Unite Here Local 11 communications department, provided a statement from a single mother of two, Lorena Mendez, who said, “I commute over two hours from Bakersfield to prepare meals at LAX’s airline catering company LSG Sky Chef’s. With the $20 I make it’s not nearly enough to help me live in Los Angeles.”
Mendez looked ahead to the Olympics and said, “I hope this fast will enlighten the hearts and minds of Los Angeles city leaders and help them understand they have a unique opportunity to help change the lives of thousands of working families like mine ahead of the Olympics and Paralympcis by passing this law.”
Jovan Houston, an LAX customer service agent and SEIU-USWW executive board member said, “Workers are fed up with the City Council not listening to workers’ demands, so we’re fasting to send the strong message that we can’t afford to wait any longer.”
She told city council members “have the choice to stand with workers or stand with greedy corporations. “They can choose to support working people or allow airlines, contractors and hotels to put profits over people.”
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