Community Corner
Solidarity Rally for Hotel Workers Held at LA Gay Center's Gala
The rally supporting hotel workers and the Hyatt boycott drew support from about 350 demonstrators.
Chanting "shame on you" a group of about 350 protesters gathered outside the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel on Saturday night as part of a solidarity rally held by Unite Here Local 11.
The group rallied against the LA Gay and Lesbian Center for holding its 39th Anniversary Gala at a hotel boycotted by the labor group and hotel workers.
The solidarity rally comes as the result of a by Unite Here in September as a way to pressure the hotel chain to offer a fair contract to its workers. The boycott includes and the Hyatt Regency Long Beach. Workers have been without a contract since last November and the labor group continues to increase pressure on Hyatt during its continuing with the hotel chain.
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Having the center move its gala to another location where there was not a labor dispute going on is what Unite Here Local 11 would have liked to see, said Leigh Shelton, communications coordinator for Unite Here Local 11.
Leigh said Unite Here doesn't want to divide anyone and says it sees the L.A. Gay and Lesbian Center as an ally.
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"We can only win the fight for justice and equality when we all stand together and I think it's the Hyatt that has pitted workers and people against each other," Leigh said.
The protest drew support from members of the Courage Campaign, Stonewall Young Democrats, Latino Equality Alliance and supporters from the LGBT community.
The LA Gay and Lesbian Center said it looked into moving its event to another venue, but that could accommodate its large gala. The center also said penalties associated with canceling the event would hurt fundraising efforts that benefit the LGBT community.
California's first openly gay Assembly Speaker John A. Pérez (D-Los Angeles), who normally attends the gala, chose not to attend and instead sent the labor group $500 to buy food for the workers.
In a statement, Unite Here Local 11 says calling for a boycott is difficult, but "necessary to show the Hyatt that [it is] prepared to do whatever it takes to hold on to good jobs and to win a fair contract."
We'll have highlights from the LA Gay and Lesbian Center's 39th Anniversary Gala coming shortly.