UNITE HERE Local 11: Prominent Women’s Groups Pen Letter to Aimbridge Pressing for Action in Wake of Allegations of Sexual Harassment at Aimbridge-Operated Hotels in Southern California

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Leadership from the Southern Christian Leadership Conference and National Organization for Women - Hollywood Chapter sent a letter this week to Aimbridge’s CEO Craig Smith to raise concerns about women workers who have brought forward allegations of sexual harassment and ineffective management at Aimbridge-operated properties in Southern California.

The community leaders call on Aimbridge firstly “to meet with us to discuss these concerns in depth at the earliest opportunity. Second, appropriate steps must be taken with respect to each of the pending cases, which should at minimum include holding managers who have failed to effectively address sexual harassment or implement necessary policies accountable and ensuring that workers who have suffered harassment are not required to interact with their abusers and receive all appropriate remedies.”

“Third, Aimbridge should work with us and other stakeholders to appoint a respected Ombudsperson on gender-based discrimination and harassment, who can provide an independent assessment of the company’s practices, recommend systemic reforms, and ensure complete and appropriate remediation in particular cases.”

The groups have sent this letter as workers across dozens of hotels have successfully ratified their historic union contracts at other Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt properties across Southern California. Aimbridge operates unionized hotels in the region that include Aloft El Segundo, Courtyard Marriott Santa Monica, Doubletree Hotel Downtown Los Angeles, Fairfield Inn and Suites El Segundo, Hampton Inn & Suites Santa Monica, Hilton Pasadena, Holiday Inn LAX, Hyatt Regency LAX, and Sheraton Park Anaheim.

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