UPDATE: Apr. 16, 2024: Three union workers were arrested outside of the Aimbridge-operated Hilton Pasadena. Unite Here Local 11 called the arrests “an assault on the free speech rights of Hilton Pasadena workers.” A police report from the City of Pasadena Police Department obtained by Hotel Dive shows that the protestors were arrested for megaphone use that violated a city ordinance. Aimbridge said it was not involved in the arrests.
Dive Brief:
- Hundreds of workers at hotels operated by Aimbridge Hospitality in Southern California walked out on strike Thursday, according to hospitality union Unite Here Local 11.
- Over the past two months, six women at two Aimbridge-operated hotels in the region — the Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica and Sheraton Park Anaheim — have alleged harassment and verbal abuse at work. This week’s walkouts occurred after the union deemed Aimbridge’s response to the allegations “woefully inadequate,” according to Unite Here.
- Though more than 30 hotels have reached agreements with workers to end the multiphase, multihotel labor disputes that began in July, the union continues to boycott Aimbridge and other hotel groups where issues go beyond wages.
Dive Insight:
Earlier this year, the six women who alleged harassment and abuse at work filed pending complaints with the California Civil Rights Department. Workers at the Aimbridge-managed properties launched a boycott, “Shamebridge,” that asked guests to stay elsewhere until disputes were resolved.
On March 20, more than 40 California politicians sent a letter to Aimbridge CEO Craig Smith asking the company to take specific steps to address the issue, including appointing an ombudsperson to conduct an independent assessment of the company’s practices. According to Unite Here, the company’s vice president of human resources responded, disputing the employees’ allegations “that Aimbridge managers have been ineffective.”
The union noted that “it does not appear the company completed an investigation of the workers’ complaints prior to denying that any wrongdoing took place.”
An Aimbridge spokesperson told Hotel Dive, “Every day we set out to create a safe, healthy, and positive work environment for our associates, and will not stand for harassment of any kind. As soon as allegations were brought to our attention, we immediately launched a thorough investigation and took actions reflective of our zero-tolerance policy.”
In January, the hospitality company announced in a release that its managed hotels in Southern California “signed a new proposal with UNITE HERE” that would increase non-tipped wages by up to $10 an hour— but when reached for comment, a company spokesperson said the only signees were the hotels, not Unite Here representatives.
“Aimbridge has consistently stated that its top priority has always been, and will continue to be, taking care of people, especially its associates,” the company shared in its January release.
Though more than 30 hotels in Southern California have reached agreements with workers since multiproperty strikes began last July, disputes continue elsewhere. Earlier this week, Members of Unite Here rallied outside Los Angeles’ Hotel Figueroa, where speakers including Sen. Bernie Sanders claimed private equity-owned hotels were to blame for protracted labor battles.
The six Aimbridge Hospitality-managed properties in the region are co-owned by private equity firm Advent International.
The issues at Hotel Figueroa go beyond wages, too — employees claim the hotel violated Los Angeles’ Hotel Worker Retention Ordinance when its food and beverage operator abruptly terminated them six days after they filed to organize a union. Workers also alleged that someone fired ball pellets from an air rifle at them while they picketed outside the hotel, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Workers at hotels that have settled contracts have won wage increases, better healthcare and safer workloads, according to Unite Here.