Hundreds of thousands of workers across the country are on strike, or are threatening to do so, in a surge of union activity not seen in decades. The “summer of strikes” has seen a combined actors and writers strike in Hollywood, a once-in-a-generation event.
Nurses around the state are also holding strikes, alleging their hospitals have refused to address critical nurse recruitment and retention issues. Hospitality workers are calling for fair wages to keep up with rising costs of housing and goods.
On this week’s “In Focus SoCal,” host Tanya McRae sits down with West Hollywood Mayor Shyne to discuss how the ongoing strikes are impacting local businesses.
“There’s a range of businesses that have been affected: dry cleaners, food services, restaurants that tourists go to, that actors and writers would attend,” said Shyne.
Spectrum News' Jada Montemarano spoke to Corri Levelle, owner of Sandy Rose Floral, who only works with productions. She said all of her projects have been shut down, resulting in large loss of revenue.
“It’s comparable to COVID shutdown," said Levelle. "We haven’t recovered from that. Here we are dealing with this again."
Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here! Local 11, joins McRae to discuss the ongoing negotiations with the Los Angeles hotel industry, which is represented by the Collective Bargaining Group.
“As we stepped into these negotiations, what we’re focused in trying to answer and complete is the question that all Angelenos are facing, which is ‘Who will be able to live in Los Angeles? Will it only be the few in the wealthy?’”
Petersen tells McRae that the hotel industry needs to hire a workforce that reflects the industry fully. He says the hotel industry traditionally does not hire Black workers, but that hotels impacted by striking members have been bringing in temporary workers who are Black.
“How can you find them when it’s time to break the strike, but you can’t find them as permanent workers?” asked Petersen.
Heather Rozman, president and CEO of the Hotel Association of Los Angeles, also joins the conversation about the ongoing hotel strikes.
“We’re becoming growingly concerned about the long-term impacts that this will have on the reputation of Los Angeles,” said Rozman.
She added that LA hotels are still recovering from the pandemic and trying to lure back large convention business and international travel.
“That is often an economic boom for not just hotels, but our employees, for the small businesses like the florists, the airlines, the bakery down the street. All of these small businesses really rely on hotels and tourism to support their businesses.”
“In Focus SoCal” reached out to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers for an interview, but the group declined. AMPTP sent the following statement: “The deal that AMPTP has offered SAG-AFTRA represents more than $1B in wage increases, pension & health contributions and residual increases, and includes first-of-their-kind protections over its three-year term, including expressly with respect to AI.”
AMPTP alleged in its statement that a chart issued by SAG-AFTRA on July 17 about the status of negotiations was misleading “either in the characterization of the producers’ offer or in the omission of key details.” “In Focus” reached out to SAG-AFTRA for comment but has not heard back.
Send us your thoughts to InFocusSoCal@charter.com and watch at 9 a.m. and noon Sunday.