by Garth Meyer
Chanting and pounding drums were heard on the waterfront Saturday, Nov. 23, as food and beverage workers at Sonesta Redondo demonstrated around the perimeter, and at the hotel’s front entrance, in the latest display of an effort to reach a new contract agreement.
The Local 11 union workers voted Oct. 25 to authorize a possible strike, in the wake of the largest hotel strike in modern U.S. history, when hotel staff members across Southern California walked out in the summer of 2023, gaining historic wage increases last year and into 2024.
The Sonesta Redondo workers’ vote was in protest of hotel management not yet signing a contract agreed-to by 70+ hotels in the region. The local employees have not gone on strike, the vote was only an authorization to do so.
“They could go out on strike at any moment,” said Maria Hernandez, Local 11 organizer.
“I want to ensure my family has a better way of life, and the new standard that other hotels have set will allow us to do that,” said Freddy Garasia, banquet houseman at the Sonesta Redondo Beach.
He has worked at the property for 18 years, going back to when it was the Crowne Plaza. A total of 54 Only Sonesta food and beverage workers are subject to the contract.
“We try to fight for this contract. We don’t have answers, so we start doing the picket lines outside,” Garasia said. “We try to do our best, always, with the client, we love the job.”
The previous contract from 2018 expired last year.
The Redondo workers say they are seeking wages that keep pace with the cost of housing, maintaining affordable benefits and for “reasonable workload assignments.”
“The company knows what the workers are asking for,” Hernandez said.
The food and beverage employees have demonstrated 10 times this fall.
Other area hotels who have not signed a new agreement with Local 11 workers are the Hilton Garden Inn El Segundo and Cameo Beverly Hills.
The labor union represents more than 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona. Its members are employed by hotels, restaurants, convention centers, universities and airports.
Garasia said there has never been a strike in his 18 years at the Redondo Beach hotel.
Requests for comment by Sonesta Management for this article were not responded to by presstime. ER
