Hilton LA Airport Loses $1.8+ mil to Boycott
Lt. Governor Of CA, Cruz Bustamante, Among Those Who Support Boycott By Pulling Business From Hotel
LOS ANGELES, CA, November 1, 2006. California Lt. Governor and Democratic candidate for CA Insurance Commissioner, Cruz Bustamante, honored the worker boycott of the LAX Hilton and cancelled his planned overnight stay at the hotel.
Bustamante's announcement comes after more than ten groups, representing more than $1.5 million through next year, have pulled their business from the hotel in only two months. The boycott was launched on August 31, 2006.
Other clients who, like Bustamante, have decided to move all business away from the hotel include the California Teachers Association, the Jubilee Ministry of the National Episcopal Church, the California Association of Area Agencies on Aging and the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health.
Bustamante had reservations for October 21, 2006, but canceled after learning of worker efforts to gain the right to organize a union at the hotel.
Bustamante also noted that charges against the hotel were pending with the National Labor Relations Board alleging illegal interrogations, suspensions, terminations and discrimination by management-all designed to discourage worker organizing efforts.
"I made this decision because it was the right thing to do and I hope that others will choose to honor the workers' boycott as well," said Bustamante, the Democratic Candidate for Insurance Commissioner. "I cannot in good conscience support a business that is involved in serious allegations of intimidation and harassment to discourage worker organizing efforts. So I will not meet, eat or sleep at the LAX Hilton until the workers can organize freely without interference from management."