From the Other Side:Boycott is not good for the city

It has been about two years since Unite Here began an effort to organize the employees at the Hilton Glendale. It's been about a year since a boycott of the hotel was called, and picketing has been staged for particular events taking place at the Hilton.

The issue between Hilton's management and the union, Unite Here, seems to be at an impasse.

There have been some ramifications because of the boycott, some loss of business at the hotel. This is not good for Glendale.

"Unite" (formerly a union of needle trades, textiles and industrial employees) and "Here" (Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees International Union) merged in July 2004, forming Unite Here. They represent 400,000-plus members. The new union's top priority, according to its website, is: "Organizing the unorganized in our industries is the top priority for Unite Here. Over 50% of the new union's national budget will go toward organizing."

Nowhere in its priority statement is there any mention of the welfare of employees. Their priority is to increase the size of their union. Just refer to the website to get an appreciation of how ambitious the union's organizational efforts are. The Hilton Glendale is just one of many sites that Unite Here has scheduled, or is scheduling, for organization.

Within this last year, Unite Here coerced the Los Angeles City Council into granting raises in pay to the workers at those hotels that service Los Angeles International Airport, a right the City Council does not have.

Business objected, as they should, and organized a petition drive putting the question to a public vote. It never went to a vote; the courts decided the City Council of Los Angeles does not have the right to raise wages in the private sector.

Unite Here is also attempting to organize the Casino workers at the Indian-owned casinos throughout California. They have been at it for a year and they have met a formidable opponent. The Indian tribes enjoy a sovereignty that the union does not have — they are not restricted to how much of a federal political donation they can make. It's going to be interesting to see how this tug-of- war comes out.

Unite Here has a tactic of appealing to local politicians. They have the potential to deliver votes, they convince them to do their bidding in meeting their top priority — again, increasing their numbers — and they have had some degree of success.