Investigation Launched Into Hotels For Allegedly Hiring Unhoused Refugees As Temp Workers

Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gascón says his office will investigate hotels accused of hiring unhoused refugees as temporary workers. Those include people who may have been sent in buses by Texas Gov. Greg Abbot dating back to June.

Unite Here Local 11, the union representing striking hotel workers, said the hotels involved are replacing workers who are on strike with refugees. The union said some of the hotels include the Le Méridien Delfina Santa Monica, as well as the Holiday Inn and Four Points by Sheraton near the Los Angeles International Airport.

Representatives handling labor talks for the hotels did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

The union's co-president Ana Briceño said the temp workers are reporting heavy workloads without breaks.

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"We have potential concerns with child labor," Briceño said. "There were payments that were made via Zelle — potentially wage theft. And so, we feel that this industry is taking advantage of very vulnerable workers."

According to the union, one underage worker allegedly missed school to work at a hotel.

In a statement, Gascón said his office would work with the union and other community groups to ensure hotels are in compliance with labor laws.

“We take these egregious allegations with the utmost seriousness,” he said. “The mistreatment of vulnerable workers and their exploitation will not be tolerated."

Hotel workers have been conducting rolling strikes since July. They're demanding a $5 an hour raise with pay bumps totaling $11 an hour over three years. Other asks include affordable health care, manageable staffing workloads, and a hospitality workforce housing fund. Only the Westin Bonaventure and the Biltmore Los Angeles in downtown have reached tentative agreements with the union.

"We keep saying to them that the only people that are unhoused in the hotels are their workers, and, then they go and bring replacement workers from Skid Row to replace people who are struggling every day to keep a roof over their heads....it's crazy."

The union says it is helping refugees with food, resources, and creating resumes.

The district attorney's office is also asking the public's help in their investigation. They're urging witnesses and hotel employees to come forward and contact the office's Consumer Protection Division at (213) 257-2540.