Police arrest protesters outside chamber lunch

GLENDALE — Sixteen protesters were arrested for blocking traffic on Glenoaks Boulevard Thursday during the annual State of the City address at the Hilton Glendale in what was a calculated demonstration to draw attention to the hotel workers' attempts to unionize.

Union organizers planned the protest down to the arrests that would be made. The 16 union supporters — none of whom were Hilton Glendale employees — were trained in peaceful civil disobedience on Tuesday and anticipated their arrest, Unite Here spokeswoman Paulina Gonzales said.

The group was cheered by approximately 175 other protesters when they sat down in a circle on Glenoaks Boulevard and refused to move despite multiple warnings from Glendale Police officers.

After about 15 minutes, the protesters were arrested and loaded onto a bus bound for the Glendale Police Station, where they were booked for unlawful assembly, Glendale Police Sgt. Tom Lorenz said.

Union representatives notified Glendale Police about the protest in advance in order to insure that the arrests would be passive, Gonzales said.

"I think all workers have a right to organize, to have a collective bargaining agreement with hotel management," said Carlos Jauregui, who was arrested.

"I'm here because I'm hoping to accomplish what the workers want, which is recognition."

The arrests marked the union's latest attempt to bring attention to their efforts to organize workers at the Hilton Glendale, which is owned by Eagle Hospitality. Since April, hotel workers and union organizers have urged potential hotel clients to boycott the establishment.

Glendale resident Triny Ramirez, who has worked as a housekeeper at the hotel for eight years, said she hopes a union contract with Unite Here would help her secure health care for herself and two children, she said.

"The wage I receive is not in accord with the economy," Ramirez said. "I live in Glendale and I don't want to leave Glendale because Glendale is safe, but how can I pay my mortgage?"

Hotel management is not opposed to its workers organizing, but as of yet, employees have not requested to be represented by Unite Here, said Linda Norman, general manager of the Hilton Glendale.

"There are many people who choose not to be represented, so we support the secret ballot election process through the [National Labor Relations Board], which allows workers to decide if they want to be represented or not to be represented," Norman said.

Unite Here hopes to avoid the secret ballot election process at the Hilton Glendale because even if employees vote in favor of representation, the hotel is entitled to an appeal, Gonzalez said.