More than 100 demonstrators are expected at tonight’s school board meeting, when board members will vote on a resolution asking that a labor dispute at the Doubletree Guest Suites end.
The Doubletree, located on Fourth Street near Santa Monica High School, pays rent to the school district.
The Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District board members will vote on a resolution that will call upon the Doubletree management and its workers to resolve their disputes.
Students, parents, teachers, clergy and other community members have lobbied hotel management to respect workers’ rights. The workers want the hotel to pay for their health insurance, among other gripes.
Demonstrators plan to hold a demonstration outside City Hall before the 7 p.m. school district meeting.
The dispute between the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union workers who are organizing at the Doubletree and the hotel’s management has been intensifying since the workers spoke at a March 20 school board meeting.
HERE 814 filed unfair labor practice charges on Monday against the Doubletree to the National Labor Relations Board, claiming harassment, discrimination and interrogation of workers who are trying to organize a union.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on May 16, 2002. Read the original PDF.