CALIFORNIA – The Hotel Figueroa in Los Angeles is at the center of an investigation requested by the local union Unite Here Local 11. The formal request has been submitted to the Los Angeles City Attorney’s Office due to alleged violations of the city’s Worker Retention Ordinance.
The local union has taken action following reports of staff layoffs on February 11th. According to a report, hotel operators, BGO and Highgate have let go of existing staff to make way for a new company, The Botanical Group, to oversee food and beverage operations. This transition, according to the union, has potentially left long-standing restaurant and bar workers without jobs.
Kurt Petersen, co-president of Unite Here Local 11, has strongly condemned the actions of the hotel owners. Petersen asserts that it’s unacceptable for wealthy corporations to treat their workers as disposable. The union is urging immediate action from the City Attorney’s Office to address this crisis, highlighting the impact on both affected workers and the community at large.
The Worker Retention Ordinance was established to address historical issues of mass layoffs in the hotel industry during changes of ownership or management. This measure requires new owners or operators to retain existing employees during a transition period, aiming to stabilize employment and mitigate the burden on social services for displaced workers.
Highgate, one of the hotel operators, has yet to comment on the situation. The Hotel Figueroa, located on Figueroa Street and Olympic Boulevard, is a 14-story building with multiple food and beverage outlets, including Sparrow Italia and Café Fig.
As of now, the City Attorney’s Office has not responded to requests for comments nor confirmed if an investigation into the layoffs at Hotel Figueroa will be conducted.
