Hotel workers in the Hollywood and Pasadena area are currently on strike. Per the Los Angeles Times, “workers are picketing for higher wages and better benefits and working conditions.”
“Unite Here Local 11 says hotel employees are forced into long commutes because their pay hasn’t kept pace with soaring housing costs,” explains writer Helen Li.
There are other issues at play as well, says Li.
“Unite Here Local 11 has accused hotels such as the Laguna Cliffs Marriott Resort & Spa in Dana Point and Fairfield Inn & Suites in El Segundo of failing to hire Black workers as full-time employees while bringing in Black workers as replacement labor,” Li details.
As with any strike, the departure of workers from their places of work has caused some major disruptions, as a recent series of videos from TikTok user @televisionofnomads shows.
The TikToker says that their sister’s wedding was disrupted by workers striking outside of the venue, the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro.
@televisionofnomads We hoped they would be respectful but as it gets closer to the wedding @UNITE HERE! is sending even more strikers to bombard my sister’s wedding, and where is @HiltonByDoubleTree??? @UNITE HERE Local 11 #hotelstrike #losangeleshotelstrike #wedding #sanpedro #doubletreebyhilton #doubletreesanpedro ♬ original sound – Renny + Benny | Explorers
“We hoped they would be respectful but as it gets closer to the wedding @UNITE HERE! is sending even more strikers to bombard my sister’s wedding, and where is @HiltonByDoubleTree???” the TikToker asked in the caption.
The TikToker then posted a follow-up video showing the strike continuing as the wedding approached.
@televisionofnomads @HiltonByDoubleTree needs to explain what they’re doing to their employees to make them believe it’s acceptable to ruin an innocent person’s wedding. There are ethical ways to strike working conditions without dragging an innocent family into the crossfire. I wouldn’t wish this on any of the @UNITE HERE! families. As the wedding comes closer, @UNITE HERE Local 11 are taking strikers away from the lobby and deliberately sending them to the wedding to ruin it. My nieces are terrified, and on a day that should be happy and full of love, these strikers are out here making kids cry. This is not what unions are about. And Double Tree San Pedro hasn’t reached out AT ALL to remedy this. We’ve been calling repeatedly to make this right. My sister deserves compensation for this distress. #hotelstrike #losangeleshotelstrike #sanpedrohotelstrike #uniteherelocal11 #unitehere #doubletree #doubletreebyhilton ♬ original sound – Renny + Benny | Explorers
For context, the TikToker says throughout the comments and captions that they were not aware that a strike was happening and that the hotel did not inform them of such a strike.
They also claim that the hotel has refused to refund them for the events that took place.
@televisionofnomads Replying to @Isabel Lien @HiltonByDoubleTree needs to compensate my sister for this distress. I wouldnt wish this on anyone’s family @UNITE HERE! @UNITE HERE Local 11 #hotelstrike #losangeleshotelstrike #sanpedrohotelstrike #uniteherelocal11 #unitehere #doubletree #doubletreebyhilton #wedding #sanpedro #doubletreesanpedro ♬ original sound – Renny + Benny | Explorers
Disruptions continued even as the wedding was moved inside. The TikToker notes that this did little to solve the problem.
“It was hard to hear the ceremony with the strikers banging their signs on the window and throwing water bottles, and Double Tree management did not provide a working microphone,” they wrote.
In the caption of a later video, the TikToker says the family went through with the wedding because they learned of the strike too late to make any arrangements to move it.
“We heard about the @HiltonByDoubleTree strike an hour before we arrived and the wedding was already paid in full,” the TikToker explained. “My family cant afford to sacrifice that money. if you could afford it, you are very blessed.”
Users in the comments were originally divided by the events of the video, with some initially turning against the TikToker.
“Don’t cross picket lines,” read one highly-favorited comment.
“Everyone is pro worker and pro anti corporate until it inconveniences them. then it flips,” stated another.
“Unfortunately strikes are [meant] to be disruptive by nature,” detailed a third. “Hopefully Hilton is a embarrased and makes it right for both parties!”
However, the mood soon turned against the hotel, with many saying that they should have informed the couple about the strike prior to their arrival and offered them compensation after the fact.
“Blame the hotel not the strikers!” exclaimed a commenter.
“Am so sorry this is happening to your sister,” shared a second. “the HOTEL should take accountability!!!”
“Nah if this were my wedding, I’d be PISSED at the hotel. Not the workers,” explained an additional commenter. “Demand a refund from the hotel.”
“All these comments attacking the striking workers as if the billion dollar hotel chain couldn’t have fixed this by paying people ages ago. Lick boots,” declared a further user.
The Daily Dot reached out to the TikToker and to Hilton via email.
Update 3:00pm CT July 27: In an email to the Daily Dot, a spokesperson from the Doubletree by Hilton San Pedro shared the following:
“Making sure our guests have a great experience is our top priority, which is why our entire team is always ready to find creative solutions and go above and beyond to exceed guest expectations when plans need to change,” they said.
“Upon learning of a potential disruption near our hotel that day, we immediately took steps to present options to the wedding party, including offering up an alternate on-site location away from the outside area, so their special day could continue without a hitch,” they continued. “In addition to finding ways to quickly relocate the festivities, we also provided complimentary perks and rewards, such as bar service, to further ensure the wedding party had a great time. We continually strive to please our guests and were disappointed to hear of any dissatisfaction since on the event day, the bride and groom shared that they were appreciative of the solutions provided. We continue to communicate with the couple and their families to address any additional concerns or feedback they may have.”
Update 2:24pm CT, July 29, 2023: In an email to the Daily Dot, the TikToker shared additional thoughts about the situation.
“The DoubleTree Hilton was negligent about informing my sister about the strike, even though they knew a strike was imminent,” she detailed. “They had a duty to inform the bride about the impending strike so that she could make informed decisions about the wedding plans. And even at the wedding site on the day of the wedding, the hotel contacts were largely unresponsive and evasive. I called multiple times and sent multiple texts that were left unanswered.”
“The union absolutely has the right to strike and the entire situation could’ve been averted with proper communication on behalf of the hotel. We feel compassion for the workers’ fight for decent working conditions and livable wages,” she continued. “If given the chance to make an informed decision, my sister would have, in fact, moved the wedding to a location not affected by strikes. Hilton’s primary focus was their profits instead of a bride.”
“One of the DoubleTree heads we repeatedly tried to get into contact with later stated that it was the third wave of hotel strikes in the area, indicating the higher-ups were well-informed of the imminent strike; therefore, had the legal obligation to inform the couple of the strikes,” she added.
“It is well known that each party to a contract must act in good faith and deal fairly with the other party in performing or enforcing the terms of the contract. Here, Hilton knew in advance that these strikes could happen and intentionally withheld the information from the couple. Why? At best, because they were negligent. At worse, to obligate the couple to move forward with the wedding,” she concluded. “The Hilton hotel breached the contract and the couple will forever look back on this day with sorrow as their important day was forever ruined. The hotel owes them a full refund at minimum. The couple is entitled to the wedding that they deserve.”
