Two big victories for workers at L.A. City Hall

Hospitality and business services workers can now count on having jobs to return to when businesses reopen.

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Friends,

Laid-off janitorial, hotel workers, and others in the decimated hospitality and building services industries walked away from yesterday's marathon L.A. city council meeting with two major victories. We are so grateful to the entire city council for standing with workers.

Thanks in part to public pressure from people like you, worker retention and right of recall passed unanimously. Hospitality and business services workers can now count on having jobs to return to when it's safe to do so.

Our allies at UNITE HERE Local 11, SEIU-USWW, and the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor worked tirelessly alongside city leaders to protect the 80 percent of workers in traveler accommodation who are expected to be laid off due to COVID-19 as well as janitors whose work will be of extra importance as office workers return to work. The law will return to city council for a final vote next week.

We owe special thanks to City Council President Nury Martinez and Councilmember Mike Bonin for championing this legislation, and to Mayor Eric Garcetti for promising to sign it into law as soon as it reaches his desk.

"The working families of Los Angeles commend the courageous leadership of City Council President Nury Martinez, Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, the entire City Council, and Mayor Eric Garcetti. Your unrelenting resolve will help countless workers and their families sleep better tonight knowing their jobs will be there once the city begins to open. This is a victory for the American people and a testament to the power of the Los Angeles labor movement. We hope to see these protections passed in cities across the nation."

— Ron Herrera, President of the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor, AFL-CIO

In addition, laid-off LAX workers won continued health care coverage by their employers.

The new policy, which UNITE HERE Local 11 fought for, gives many airport tenant businesses three months of rent relief so long as those businesses keep making health care payments for laid-off workers for two months, comply with all Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) rules, and bring those workers back when business returns. One airport company, DFS, which provides duty-free services at LAX, has already committed to 5 months of continued coverage.

We thank Mayor Eric Garcetti, Councilmember Mike Bonin, LAWA Director Justin Erbacci, the LAWA Board of Directors led by Sean Burton, and the whole staff at LAWA for their efforts to protect the many LAX workers who have been laid off due to COVID-19.

In Solidarity,

Roxana Tynan
LAANE Executive Director

LAANE is a leading advocacy organization dedicated to building a new economy for all. Combining dynamic research, innovative public policy and the organizing of broad alliances, LAANE promotes a new economic approach based on good jobs, thriving communities, and a healthy environment.