SoCal Hotel Workers Strike as Pay and Benefits Negotiations Collapse

Thousands of hotel workers in Los Angeles County have gone on strike after negotiations for higher wages and better benefits failed. The contract between the hotels and Unite Here Local 11 expired, and workers from major hotels, including the Intercontinental, Millennium Biltmore, The Ritz Carlton, and The Fairmont Miramar, walked off the job. The strike, the largest in the union's history, was prompted by increased workloads and the need for fair compensation. The Westin Bonaventure Hotel & Suites reached a separate deal, but the strike continues at other hotels. Workers are demanding wage increases, improved healthcare, safe staffing, and retirement benefits.