1,000 Tourism Workers to Protest at LAX
Labor Desk
June 17, 2009
Union Contract Expirations Loom for 11,000 Tourism Workers at LA Hotels and LAX--Workers Demand Good Jobs to Help Rebuild the Los Angeles Economy.
As Los Angeles enters the height of the tourism season, union contracts that mandate good wages, guaranteed wage increases, free family health insurance and job security are set to expire for 11,000 tourism industry workers employed at hotels around the city and at the concession stands at the LAX airport. The tourism industry in Los Angeles is the backbone of the Los Angeles economy; tourists spent $14.2 billion in 2007. Hotel revenue was over $2.5 billion in 2007 and concessions at the airports generated over $268 million dollars in revenue in 2008.
Now, as Los Angeles, as well as the rest of the country, contemplates how to recover from the current economic crisis, city leaders warn that we risk failure by losing sight of the need to ensure that good jobs are part of the equation for recovery.
Good jobs create a stronger Los Angeles. The extra income due to the higher wages and free family health insurance directly benefits local communities because wages are reinvested into the local economy. As wages increase, more families reinvest their wages in the community. Workers and their families spend more money at local businesses, thereby boosting the local economy. Thus, good jobs fuel discretionary spending and investment, which increases demand for more products, creates more jobs, and helps to perpetuate this same cycle.
The rally will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. at the southeast corner of the LAWA Administrative Building. Speakers include Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer LA County Federation of Labor; John Wilhelm, President UNITE HERE; Tom Walsh, UNITE HERE Local 11 President; Faith Leaders.
As Los Angeles enters the height of the tourism season, union contracts that mandate good wages, guaranteed wage increases, free family health insurance and job security are set to expire for 11,000 tourism industry workers employed at hotels around the city and at the concession stands at the LAX airport. The tourism industry in Los Angeles is the backbone of the Los Angeles economy; tourists spent $14.2 billion in 2007. Hotel revenue was over $2.5 billion in 2007 and concessions at the airports generated over $268 million dollars in revenue in 2008.
Now, as Los Angeles, as well as the rest of the country, contemplates how to recover from the current economic crisis, city leaders warn that we risk failure by losing sight of the need to ensure that good jobs are part of the equation for recovery.
Good jobs create a stronger Los Angeles. The extra income due to the higher wages and free family health insurance directly benefits local communities because wages are reinvested into the local economy. As wages increase, more families reinvest their wages in the community. Workers and their families spend more money at local businesses, thereby boosting the local economy. Thus, good jobs fuel discretionary spending and investment, which increases demand for more products, creates more jobs, and helps to perpetuate this same cycle.
The rally will take place on Thursday, June 18, 2009 at 5:15 p.m. at the southeast corner of the LAWA Administrative Building. Speakers include Maria Elena Durazo, Executive Secretary-Treasurer LA County Federation of Labor; John Wilhelm, President UNITE HERE; Tom Walsh, UNITE HERE Local 11 President; Faith Leaders.
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