The effort to unionize a downtown hotel received a boost Thursday from the students and faculty of Santa Monica High School, who rallied in support of the cause, while also honoring a renowned labor activist.
Hundreds of students, faculty members and union organizers marched through the SAMOHI campus, then met in front of a newly-painted mural at the school that celebrates the life of Cesar Chavez.
The after-school rally was largely in response to a recent advertising campaign launched by the management of the Doubletree Guest Suites Hotel, located adjacent to SAMOHI, against the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union Local 814.
“This was about taking the message of Chavez’s life’s work to the management of the Doubletree,” said Oscar de la Torre, director of the Pico Youth and Family Center, one of the rally’s organizers.
The Doubletree, located at 1707 4th St., is built on property owned by the Santa Monica-Malibu United School District.
Hotel officials did not want to comment on the rally.
“This has become a war of propaganda,” de la Torre said. “This is the poor man’s ad. We may not have the financial resources they have, but we obviously have the edge when it comes to people.”
“This has become a war of propaganda. This is the poor man’s ad. We may not have the financial resources they have, but we obviously have the edge when it comes to people.” — — OSCAR DE LA TORRE Rally organizer
Students said the fight to unionize the hotel was equivalent to a civil rights movement for workers.
“All the students were here because they feel strongly about unionization and the betterment of society as a whole,” said junior Carl Lisberger.
“I am asking for help in stopping the local hotel union from visiting my house and harassing me,” the petition states. “This note/petition is being signed by my own free will with no pressure from anyone.”
Hotel workers recently testified before Santa Monica-Malibu Unified school board members, saying they are paid less than $10 per hour and toil under poor working conditions.
Mainly through Spanish interpreters, workers told of a lack of health insurance and of a harassing campaign by the hotel’s management to prevent the union from organizing the resort’s labor.
At the meeting, union organizers also urged the school district to audit the Doubletree because rent paid by the hotel hasn’t increased in nearly four years.
Superintendent John Deasy said he had instructed school district attorneys to review the lease six weeks ago and begin an audit to ensure the hotel has been paying the proper rent.
Julia Brownley, president of the Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School Board, said she attended the rally to show support as a Santa Monica resident.
However, she said no official stance has been taken by the school district administration or the school board.
“The students have a right to organize and voice their concerns,” Brownley said. “It’s always fine when they do that, as long as its in a peaceful and controlled manner.”
There were numerous Santa Monica Police officers, school security officers and faculty members on hand to ensure the rally remained under control. School officials said they treated the union rally like a football game, a pep rally or any other school event.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on April 12, 2002. Read the original PDF.