Seventy-five protesters were arrested on Sept. 3, in San Francisco while demanding improved conditions for hotel workers, police and union officials said.
Nearly 1,000 people turned out for the Labor Day protest on Yerba Buena Lane near the San Francisco Marriott Marquis, according to Unite Here Local 2, which represents hospitality workers in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.
By 11:35 a.m., the arrests had begun.
Police said the 75 taken into custody were arrested on suspicion of misdemeanor failing to obey the lawful command of a peace officer and blocking the roadway.
Protesters shut down Powell Street and blocked cable car lines to call attention to what they say is the low pay they receive.
The protesters gathered to demand Marriott Hotels set an example for other hotel companies because Marriott is the largest and most profitable hotel chain in the world, according to organizers.
“One Job Should Be Enough” was the slogan associated with the protest, according to Unite Here, which in the United States and Canada represents 270,000 workers in the hotel, gaming, food service, manufacturing, textile, distribution, laundry, transportation, and airport industries.
Protesters said they want to be paid enough at their hotel job so they don’t need a second job to make ends meet.
A Marriott spokesperson said on Sept. 4, in response to the protest, that the company’s “strength is rooted in our core value of putting people first. We celebrate and thank our associates for their contribution on this Labor Day.”
The spokesperson said, “We also respect our associates’ right to voice their opinions. Marriott International has longstanding and productive relationships with Unite Here and is negotiating in good faith and in a timely fashion to obtain the best outcomes for our associates and guests.”
By Keith Burbank and DM
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