Around 40 hotel workers are making their voices heard today (November 1), striking outside the American Film Market’s (AFM) hub, Le Meridian Delfina.
Hundreds of hotel workers from multiple properties across Santa Monica have been striking since June, demanding that hotels pay them living wages that allow them to afford housing, as well as better benefits, such as improved pensions.
“It is very difficult to live in LA, everything is very expensive, and every day is more expensive,” said a striking worker who has been employed at the hotel for some years. “I need to be able to feed my family, rent my car.”
“They don’t hire enough people,” they suggested. “They are overworking people. The front office work 10 hours, six days a week.”
The worker said they know of colleagues who have to travel in for two hours to work at the hotel, as they cannot afford to live any closer by.
Another said they worked the nightshift at the Le Meridian Delfina earning $25 per hour. They are asking to be paid $30 an hour. “We’re here on strike to be heard from the bosses at the top.”
Screen had not heard back on request for comment from Le Meriden Delfina as of a request made last week.
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