UNITE HERE Local 11 represents over 30,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona. The local’s original parent union, the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees (HERE) changed its name to UNITE HERE in 2004. After a period of decline in the 1970s and 1980s, new leadership helped transformation the local in the 1990s. The union built power by identifying and developing rank-and-file leaders, mobilizing community allies, and staging dramatic public actions and strikes to win economic and political gains for hotel workers and their families.
1960s
One Local from Many Crafts
HERE Local 11 was formed from the merger of separate locals of bartenders, waiters, waitresses, and other occupations in the hotel and restaurant industry. Combining craft locals was intended to bring greater collective power to union members. In Los Angeles it led to a split between leadership dominated by bartenders (who were predominately white men) and the largely female and Spanish-speaking members in other areas of the industry.
1970s
A Union in Decline
By the 1970s, HERE locals in Los Angeles (Local 11) and Santa Monica (Local 814) were in decline as locally owned hotels converted into corporate chains and restaurants went nonunion. The union’s local leadership failed to incorporate the growing Latino and immigrant membership in the union’s business.
1978
The Right to Run for Office
In 1978, a group of Local 11 members challenged the long-serving leader of the union, Scotty Allan. Running as United Workers of Local 11, they challenged a union rule that only U.S. citizens could run for office. While they got the rule overturned, Allan won the election.
1982-1986
Demanding Translations
When local union leaders rejected a demand by Spanish-speaking members for translation at membership meetings, dissidents sued with the help of the ACLU. In 1986, a court ordered Local 11 to provide translations and inform members they had a right to fully participate in their union.
1987-1989
New Leadership
In 1987, former staff member Maria Elena Durazo challenged Scotty Allen for the union’s top leadership position. Citing voting irregularities, the international union placed the local in trusteeship, removed Allan and his supporters, and hired Durazo as an organizer. Membership meetings are conducted in Spanish and English and workers are trained to confront management themselves rather than depend on staff to represent them. In 1989, Durazo is elected to the local’s top leadership position.
1990s
Member-organizers
With new leadership, Local 11 develops a system of shop stewards, workers who are leaders among their peers and represent the union in the workplace. These workplace leaders were key to Local 11’s campaign to increase union power in the hotel industry.
1993
New Otani Boycott
Local 11 launches an international boycott of the New Otani Hotel, the first non-union hotel built in downtown Los Angeles. In 2015, a 20-year-long battle with the New Otani (now called the Downtown DoubleTree) came to a victorious end as the workers finally won a union contract with the hotel.
1993
LAANE
Aiming to develop creative ways to address the low-wage model of L.A.’s tourism industry, Local 11 and allies launch the Tourism Industry Development Council. Later renamed the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE), the organization developed strategic research and action plans, and built political coalitions to counter the dominance of corporate interests in City Hall.
1995-1997
Living Wage Campaign
Local 11 joins with the Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) and other labor groups to advocate for a citywide “living wage” above the federal minimum wage. The Living Wage campaign was part of a strategy to address low wages through municipal political action.
1996-1999
Taking on USC
Workers at USC residence halls fight to prevent outsourcing of jobs to low-wage contractors. In response, HERE Local 11 charged the leadership of USC with contributing to poverty in the working-class neighborhoods surrounding its campus, and challenged the university to live up to its public image.
2000
Santa Monica Living Wage
After successfully advocating for a living wage ordinance in Los Angeles, LAANE and UNITE HERE pushed for a similar law in Santa Monica. Hotel employers there tried and failed to pass a deceptively worded ballot initiative that promised a living wage (Prop KK, “the fake living wage”), but actually prevented one. After an intense campaign, voters defeat Prop KK and later, the city council passed a living wage ordinance effecting large employers in the coastal business zone.
2002-2003
Expanding into Santa Monica
HERE Locals 814 represented workers in Santa Monica and at LAX, but had been losing membership during the 1980s and 1990s. Local 11 staff and members helped rebuild local 814, and following a trusteeship 814 merged into Local 11.
2003
Immigrant Worker Freedom Ride
In support of federal immigration reform proposals, Local 11 leaders and members join other activists in cross-country bus rides to highlight the plight of undocumented workers. Modeled on the civil rights era Freedom Rides, the actions culminate in large protests in Washington and New York.
2004-2006
10-Cities Contract Campaign
Hotel workers in 10 cities in the U.S. and Canada simultaneously fight for higher standards, new contracts, and organizing rights from international hotel chains. In L.A. hotel workers and allies use public protest and civil disobedience to put pressure on employers and local politicians.
2006
Century Blvd. Mass Civil Disobedience
In an effort to organize hotels around Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) and link immigrant and labor rights, Local 11 organizes a massive civil disobedience action along Century Blvd. Hotel workers, union and community allies, and elected officials march and then occupy the busy street.
2012
Long Beach Living Wage
Long Beach voters pass Prop N, a living wage for hotel workers.