After 2+ years of boycotts and protests, the Chateau Marmont has finally recognized its workers’ union and will soon return to normal operations.
The legendary West Hollywood hotel and UNITE HERE! Local 11 reached an agreement Thursday that will “lay all prior disputes to rest.”
“We believe that it solidifies the foundation of the Chateau’s historic success: the commitment to its guests and employees, both of which are famous for their loyalty and longevity,” the parties wrote.
Workers will begin negotiations on their first contracts soon, the end of a bombastic and highly public row that began at the onset of the pandemic in 2020, when the hotel fired almost all of its non-union staffmembers and allegedly left them without healthcare or severance pay.
UNITE HERE rallied a small army of celebrities to the cause, including Jane Fonda and Tom Morelli of Rage Against the Machine, putting them to work as spokespeople and embedding them into the raucous protests outside the hospitals.
The movie industry’s support of hotel workers was on full display around the time of the 2021 Academy Awards ceremony, when a huge boycott nearly crippled the store. Later in the evening, celebrities such as Gabrielle Union, Spike Lee, Issa Rae, Robin Thede, Quinta Brunson, Ta-Nehisi Coates, Roxane Gay, Ashley Nicole Black and Samira Wiley all took to the streets to voice their anger.
UNITE HERE continues to become a more powerful force in local politics. The union helped guide City Council in instituting a controversial wage increase last spring.
The Chateau Marmont is NOT located within the boundaries of the City of West Hollywood. Very close but no cigar.
Let’s annex it to make it official!
This is a big deal and an important victory for Chateau employees and Unite Here. There were some pretty shabby treatment of the employees at the start of the COVID pandemic so being unionized should create a safer and more equitable work place. Isn’t everybody for that?
Totally agree. As a remember the DG, DGA WGA I want all large hotels in West Hollywood unionized. Their CEOs are making millions. They are all owned by major chains, or hedge funds or any of the corrupt greedy corporations that are ruining this country. Under the leadership of the Biden Crime family. As for the Chateau Marmont it will be a pleasure to go back there for dinner. Especially for those residents of West Hollywood that don’t live down in crime ridden pick pocket cell phone central.
I am! This is great news. There are so many anti-union folks in the City of West Hollywood. And I don’t care, if it might be steps over the city limits.
The Chateau is iconic, and should be open to the public.
This union has way too much power and is not good for West Hollywood. Any candidate they are affiliated with can not be allowed to be sitting on the council.
I support Unite Here’s efforts on behalf of hotel employees but I was very disturbed that the Union took a position in favor of de-funding the Sheriff, which seems rather far afield from their purpose.
UNITE HERE has hurt the residents of West Hollywood in countless ways. They brought us John Erickson and Sepi Shyne and a host of other poxes on our lives.
Congrats to UNITE HERE Local 11 and Chateau Marmont owners for reaching an agreement. This has been a long and difficult battle for the workers but they stayed strong and continued to remain united for their cause (ability to return to work; pathway to earn promotions; to name just a couple of the issus). This is great news for all sides, especially the hardworking and loyal workers who led this effort and had worked for the Chateau for years.
Incredible news! Chateau is such an iconic building for the area. It deserves to be operating at its fullest potential.