Kicking off his “2008 Hope For The Holidays Toy Drive” last week, newly sworn-in 55th District Assemblymember Warren Furutani joined local officials and community leaders at the Long Beach Hilton last week. The Assemblymember presented Hilton employees with a bag full of toys to start the drive, which is run by the Long Beach Coalition for Good Jobs & A Healthy Community.
But Furutani, who has long advocated for workers rights, was also there to speak on the case of Hilton’s employees, which we featured last week, here. The Furutani press release featured this statement:
The drive… attempts to seek the donation of toys for workers of the hotel—who recent studies have shown are greatly underpaid—and often times full time employees who still need state benefits.
Furutani voiced support for the employees.
“We’re gathered here to not only do what we can to make sure that employees and their families have the best possible holidays—we’re also here to question why Hotel Management continues to treat workers as second class employees,” Furutani said in a press release.
Some Hilton employees have embraced help from the union, Unite Here Local 11, while others say it only causes problems. Local 11 says they’re only working to help employees earn better wages and benefits, and that the Hilton has violated labor laws.
Local 11 recently filed charges against the Hilton with the National Labor Relations Board that include employee interrogation and threats of cuts to employees’ wages, hours and employment.
By Ryan ZumMallen, Managing Editor