Thousands of Hotel Workers Go on Strike in Southern California Over Rising Living Expenses

Hotel workers with Unite Here Local 11 picket outside the InterContinental hotel on the first day of a strike by union members at many major hotels in Southern California, in Los Angeles, on July 2, 2023. Mario Tama/Getty Images

Thousands of Southern California hotel workers went on strike on the Fourth of July weekend for a new contract with higher wages and benefits, according to the employees’ union.

Non-managerial hotel staff, including cooks, room attendants, dishwashers, servers, bellmen, and front desk workers, were seen picketing outside major hotels in Los Angeles and Orange counties as the summer tourist season picks up.