Chateau Marmont Management Allegedly Surveils Workers During Lawful Protests, Says UNITE HERE Local 11, Filing Federal Unfair Labor Practice Charge

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Yesterday, UNITE HERE Local 11, the union supporting laid-off Chateau Marmont workers, filed a charge with the National Labor Relations Board alleging that the Chateau has committed an unfair labor practice by unlawfully surveilling worker demonstrations.

Over 200 Chateau Marmont workers were fired at the onset of the pandemic in March 2020, in some cases after decades of service. Left without job security or healthcare, laid-off Chateau workers have organized a series of demonstrations and called for a boycott of the hotel.

“Chateau Marmont and Andre Balaz’ pandemic profiteering seemingly has no limits. The hotel fired their workers and cut off health insurance at the outset of this pandemic. And when workers rise up to fight for their jobs, the Chateau’s top manager spied on them. Balaz and his managers should be fired,” said Kurt Petersen Co-President of UNITE HERE Local 11.

After months of worker protests, UNITE HERE Local 11 has filed unfair labor practice charges against the hotel for its recent conduct in response. The charges allege that Chateau personnel, including Managing Director Amanda Grandinetti, have unlawfully filmed and/or photographed the lawful demonstrations of laid-off Chateau workers who were exercising their rights under the National Labor Relations Act, as well as their First Amendment right to protest.

“It is our legal right to protest and the fact that management is violating our rights instead of getting us back to work is really upsetting. I have given my life to this hotel. Now I have been delivering pizzas part time while I wait for the Chateau to call me back to work in my old job as a garage attendant,” said Carlos Barrera, who worked at the Chateau Marmont for 40 years.

Ahead of the state’s reopening on June 15, Chateau Marmont workers called attention to the need to return to work. They also called on the Small Business Administration to ensure that the Chateau was complying with Paycheck Protection Program loan requirements for the $1.95 million in PPP loans that the Chateau received.

In addition to workers’ demonstrations throughout the past year, former workers Thommi Gross and April Blackwell filed lawsuits against the Chateau Marmont alleging race discrimination and other mistreatment on the job. Workers and community allies also launched a boycott calling to be returned to work based on seniority. Over 70 workers have expressed to management that they are available to return to work.

The boycott has won the support of Hollywood names like Jane Fonda, Alfonso Cuarón, Martin Sheen and Aaron Sorkin.

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