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Unite Here Local 11, the union that supports the dismissed workers of Château Marmont, on Wednesday filed an accusation of unfair labor practice with the National Council of Labor Relations, alleging that the management of the hotel belonging to Andre Balazs “was indulging in illegally monitored or created the impression of monitoring the union activities of employees.
The indictment is the latest move in the ongoing dispute between Chateau Marmont, known for its frequent Hollywood clients, and the more than 200 hotel workers there who were fired without severance pay in March of the year. last when the COVID-19 pandemic first took root in the United States
Local 11 represents more than 32,000 workers in Southern California and Arizona, most of whom are women and people of color, employed in hotels, restaurants, airports and sports arenas. A number of former Chateau employees had staged protests outside the hotel in the spring, garnering public support from figures including Jane Fonda, Alfonso Cuaron and writer-director Aaron Sorkin. “Being the Ricardos,” a movie directed by Sorkin, canceled a shoot that was to take place at the hotel in solidarity with Castle staff, according to The Hollywood Reporter, who also reported in depth last September of allegations of racial discrimination, harassment and toxicity at the iconic Sunset Boulevard hotel. The California Democratic Party also approved the boycott of the famous hotel.
According to Wednesday’s filing, the union alleges that Chateau Marmont general manager Amanda Grandinetti, an unidentified person and an anonymous security guard illegally monitored or appeared to monitor worker protests on three occasions between April and May.
A Chateau Marmont spokesperson said by email that “this baseless claim is just another attempt by Unite Here Local 11 to harass a non-union hotel – a hotel that is in fact offering its employees a salary. and much better benefits than the union does for the same. posts. “
The property announced a year ago its intention to change gears and turn the hotel into a private club by the end of 2020, with Balazs recounting Variety last August that he believes the hospitality industry is “unlikely to come back for maybe two and a half years.” He also said at the time that he made a donation of $ 100,000 to be divided among his former employees.
At least two lawsuits have been filed against the hotel in the past year, alleging racial discrimination in the workplace. And several ex-employees said Variety in the spring, the problems related to the working environment of the Château long preceded the pandemic. Alejandro Roldan, who worked at the Chateau as a maid for $ 16 an hour until the pandemic struck, said it was not uncommon to find “a lot of bottles, a lot of drugs” in the shops. rooms occupied by party guests, making it difficult for housekeeping staff to do their jobs. “It was difficult because most of the rooms are super dirty.
Meanwhile, Walter Almendarez, who worked at the castle for 23 years until last March, most recently as a hunter and valet, said he had not received a raise for six years and that ‘he had been asked to take on additional duties after the departure of other employees. He said he was fired on just days’ notice and without severance pay or insurance.
“We got fired with nothing. I had to take my 401K, I had to go to food banks, ”Almendarez said. The former member of the Château staff is the main breadwinner while his wife takes care of their baby; he delivers parcels part-time to earn an income and has started training to work in Metro public transport.
“The pandemic profits of Chateau Marmont and Andre Balazs apparently have no limits,” Unite Here Local 11 co-chair Kurt Petersen said in a statement on Wednesday. “The hotel laid off its employees and cut health insurance at the start of this pandemic. And when the workers get up to fight for their jobs, the top Chateau official spies on them. Balazs and his managers should be made redundant.
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