Twenty-one of the hundreds of hotel workers demonstrating for decent wages and affordable health care at and near the intersection of Harbor Blvd and Katella, in Anaheim were arrested for blocking traffic around 6pm on January 24, 2019. Among those arrested at the protest were local clergy and Anaheim Councilmember Jose Moreno.
United Here Local 11 Union which organized the rally represents 29,000 hotel and restaurant workers.
The protestors said that workers are not paid enough to live in Orange County and the hotels had not been bargaining in good faith towards a fair contract. The group had been working without a contract since Nov. 30, 2018.
The November 2018 ballot measure that passed with 54% of the vote required Anaheim Resort District businesses that have received city subsidies to raise their minimum wage to $15 an hour – but did not apply to the Anaheim Hilton or Sheraton Park hotels. Both hotels have settled the dispute since the protest took place.
The 21 protestors have now been charged by new OCDA Todd Spitzer with loitering for blocking traffic and refusing to leave when ordered to do so by the Anaheim Police. Each faces two misdemeanor counts one for loitering and the other for conspiracy to violate the loitering code section. They are scheduled for arraignment on April 19, at 8:30am in Dept. N-8, North Justice Center, Fullerton.
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Categories: Local Business, Local News
