UNITE HERE Local 11 Alert for Jamaica Bay Inn Investors: Stop Pacifica Hotels’ Reckless Campaign Against Workers

UNITE HERE Local 11 sent a letter to Jamaica Bay Inn investors regarding the ongoing labor dispute at the Marina Del Rey property, which is operated by Pacifica Hotels.

The letter describes how Pacifica Hotels representatives Adam Marquis and Matt Marquis, as well as labor relations consultants Ricardo Pasalagua and Jorge Sandoval, participated in an aggressive antiunion campaign at the Jamaica Bay.

UNITE HERE Local 11 has alleged in pending unfair labor practice charges filed with the National Labor Relations Board that company representatives impliedly threatened immigration-related consequences for workers because of union organizing activity at the workplace, threatened to discipline workers for exercising their right to wear union buttons in the workplace, threatened workers that unionization could result in the hotel closing and workers losing their jobs, subjected workers to captive audience meetings in which they were bombarded with antiunion messages and fired one prominent union supporter and disciplined another in the immediate aftermath of the election, among other allegations.

Pacifica Hotels engaged Pasalagua and Sandoval for consultation fees of $3,900 and $3,600 per day, in addition to reimbursable expenses such as airfare, hotel accommodations, and car rental from October 17 to November 12, according to forms filed with the federal government.

Pacifica’s antiunion consultant Ricardo Pasalagua was previously found to have engaged in conduct that violated the National Labor Relations Act.

Despite the antiunion campaign waged in part by Pasalagua, a majority of Jamaica Bay Inn workers voted to unionize on November 12, 2024. However, Pacifica Hotels has declared its intention to drag out the labor dispute by challenging the results of the election.

Local 11 urges investors to demand that Pacifica Hotels drop its election challenges and settle a union contract that will provide workers with the same wages, benefits and protections available to unionized hotel workers at over sixty other Southern California hotels.

Investors should also ask Pacifica Hotels the following questions:

• Why did Pacifica hire a labor relations consultant who was previously found to have violated the National Labor Relations Act?
• How much did Jamaica Bay Inn investors pay labor relations consultants from October 17 to November 12?
• Given that the hotel’s lease with Los Angeles County requires that it comply with all applicable laws, does Jamaica Bay Inn management adhere to all best practices to avoid violations of labor and employment laws?

UNITE HERE Local 11 is a labor union representing over 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona who work in hotels, restaurants, universities, convention centers, and airports.

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