Our Commitment to Low-Wage Workers
At CLUE we believe that people have the right to reach their potential. That every human being is equal, unique, and of infinite worth. That low-wage workers deserve power. And that one job should be enough.
So we stand with workers, demanding dignity, justice, and decent working conditions. And we accompany them until justice is won.
The Struggle for a Larger, Fairer Economy
2nd Annual Worker Justice Tisha b’Av Ritual and Advocacy
We mourn the plight of tourism workers and call on the LA City Council to to pass the Tourism Workers Rising Living Wage Ordinance! On the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, people of all faiths will join together for sacred rituals of mourning and action in solidarity to pass the Tourism Workers Living Wage Ordinance!20 July 2024
Here are just some of the injustices facing workers in low-wage industries:
- They often need to work multiple jobs to make ends meet.
- According to MIT’s Living Wage Calculator, the living wage in Los Angeles for a single parent with one child is $43.81/hour. On average, hotel workers make around $25/hour. Many housekeepers earn closer to $20/hour.
- They often suffer wage theft.
- Their compensation may force them to choose between a 4-hour daily commute or substandard housing (unattached garages without proper kitchens/bathrooms or multiple families sharing a small apartment).
- They may face retribution for raising concerns about safety or work schedules.
“Since reopening after the pandemic, hotels began to eliminate daily room cleaning. Our workloads have become brutal and take an even bigger toll on us,” says Rosa Paz, housekeeper for 23 years at the Hilton Anaheim. “We went on strike because we work really hard and deserve better. Through the strike workers from all the hotels are more united than ever. We are ready for anything, inside, outside, at the negotiating table, and won’t settle for less than we deserve.”
Solidarity is Sacred
“Justice, and only justice, you shall pursue.”
– Deuteronomy 16:20
“As a single mom, I rarely get to see my six kids because I work two full time jobs to pay my $2,000 rent and keep up with other expenses,” says Yesenia Reyes, housekeeper at the Hyatt Regency LAX.
The Organized, Connected, Interfaith Movement
CLUE stands with workers in hospitality, service, healthcare, and other industries as they advocate for the right to thrive as members of society.
Our work is geographically based: committees in different areas of Southern California learn the stories of workers in their communities and the changes that they seek. Then CLUE members strategically amplify workers’ stories and calls for change.
- CLUE members bear witness to worker struggles in delegations to Management.
- They pray with workers before contract negotiations.
- They write letters of encouragement to workers.
- They attend advocacy meetings with elected officials.
- They sign on to letters of support to employers, lawmakers, and others.
- They call bosses.
Jose Preciado’s Story
I used to feel so much stress. Managers made us work so hard, they gave us too many things to do in eight hours, the work of 2 or 3 people, and if you couldn’t finish you would get in trouble. They made us feel like we were slaves. I came home from work every day so sad and tired that my kids would ask, ‘What’s wrong Daddy. Is everything okay?’
But today I feel so good, I feel free. The changes we have just achieved are huge. It’s so different at work since we formed our union. Already management seems more respectful towards us, they’re not trying to give us a hard time any more. I feel more comfortable doing my job. We all know what we have to do, and we feel free and proud of our work. My coworkers and I are finally happy to work in this hotel. When I come home at the end of my shift I look different to my kids, I look happy and relaxed.
Thanks so much to CLUE and all the people who supported us. When the hotel got rid of us [during the pandemic], I felt so alone. I don’t feel alone anymore. We had so many brothers and sisters behind us, pastors and faith community, who were up there when we needed them at protests at the hotel. God talked to us and said, ‘You are not alone anymore. I promise to stay with you.’ I keep praying, saying thanks to God for everything He has done in the hotel with my brothers and sisters. You promised to help us and You did it. Now there are so many positive changes in many people’s families.
Recent Worker News
2nd Annual Worker Justice Tisha b’Av Ritual and Advocacy
We mourn the plight of tourism workers and call on the LA City Council to to pass the Tourism Workers Rising Living Wage Ordinance!
On the saddest day of the Jewish calendar, people of all faiths will join together for sacred rituals of mourning and action in solidarity to pass the Tourism Workers Living Wage Ordinance!
400 USCIS Workers in Laguna Niguel are Threatened
URGE THE DIRECTORS TO STOP THE LAYOFFS At the intersection of immigration and economic justice sits the US Citizenship and Immigration California Service Center in Laguna Niguel. Right now, the Department of Homeland Security is preparing to close that office and lay off 400 employees, many of whom have been working there for decades. Highly
June 2024 – Sacred Solidarity Scoreboard in the Hospitality Workers Campaign
On June 8, after 11 months of fighting for a new dignified contract, the workers at DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel San Pedro won a historic wage increase, excellent healthcare, pension, humane workload, and growth. This victory was a testament of their organizing power and the community’s solidarity power.
May 2024 – Sacred Solidarity Scoreboard in the Hospitality Workers Campaign
CLUE was honored to join unions, immigration justice advocates, and community from across LA for the annual May Day march in Los Angeles! Celebrating the incredible accomplishments of last year’s Summer of Solidarity including the Hollywood strikes, we came together to continue fighting for worker justice, housing and citizenship for all, and peace!
April 2024 – Sacred Solidarity Scoreboard in the Hospitality Workers Campaign
As we move through April 2024, we want to share some great news and the continued struggle. See our March solidarity scoreboard for previous month’s victories. Santa Monica Workers Parade On April 12, CLUE members joined hands with hospitality workers at the Santa Monica Workers Parade, standing together in solidarity for justice. This powerful event
March 2024 – Sacred Solidarity Scoreboard in the Hospitality Workers Campaign
Since Spring of 2023, faith leaders and community members have been accompanying hospitality workers across Southern California in their struggle to be able to live where they work and to help build healthier communities for all of us. As we move through March 2024, we want to share some great news and the continued struggle.
