Breaking News: W Hotel’s “Striking” New Look

Hollywood’s luxurious W Hotel was struck and picketed early this morning by more than 100 union members. The housekeepers, bellmen and servers, who belong to Unite Here Local 11, walked off their jobs at 6 a.m. to protest what they say is management’s refusal to let them take scheduled breaks.

“We are on strike today to show the W Hollywood that we deserve the right to take breaks,” Mildred Velasquez, a W housekeeper, was quoted in a statement prepared by the union. “The W Hollywood Hotel needs to respect the limits of our bodies. Managers put too much pressure on us. I hurt my back deep cleaning-rooms at the W. Now I take prescription and over-the-counter pain medicine every day.”

When contacted by the Frying Pan, a management spokesman for the hotel, who requested anonymity, claimed no hotel employees were participating in the walkout.

The one-day action, held at the hotel’s 6250 Hollywood Boulevard location, adjacent to the Hollywood and Vine Metro Station, will give the W’s entrance a decidedly festive air as strikers will be supported by a contingent of music-video dancers from the AFTRA/Dancers’ Alliance, and a performance of the Corporate Vampire Theater. Today’s scheduled activities include:

9 a.m. — Corporate Vampire Street Theater and rally

Noon — Press conference with Music Video Dancers

12:15 p.m. — Dance performance and dance lesson

1 p.m. – Best Corporate Vampire Costume Contest

6 p.m. – Rally with L.A. Labor