NEWS ADVISORY



Contact:

Martha Dina Arguello, Physicians for Social Responsibility: (323) 229-1145

Elizabeth Crowe, Kentucky Environmental Foundation: (859) 200-8207

Sunday, March 18, 2007

ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH AND JUSTICE GROUPS

PAUSE NATIONAL MEETING TO SUPPORT LOCAL HOTEL WORKERS

A group of representatives from more than 60 environmental justice and health organizations all over the U.S. yesterday halted their meeting at the Wilshire Plaza Hotel in Los Angeles, to stand in solidarity with hotel union workers asking to re-enter negotiations with hotel management regarding unjust treatment. The groups understand that when the workers’ contract ended, their wages were cut in half to per hour, and they lost their medical insurance.

“We chose this hotel for our meeting in Los Angeles precisely because it is a union hotel,” said conference organizer Elizabeth Crowe with the Kentucky Environmental Foundation. “We now feel as though we were misled by management.”

Local organizer Martha Dina Arguello, with Physicians for Social Responsibility said “We welcomed groups all over the U.S. – from Alaska to Massachusetts -- into Los Angeles to highlight the positive steps our city is making toward social justice. I never thought we would have to pause our meeting to protest this kind of injustice.”

“Workers deserve health care and a livable wage, plain and simple. We intend to take the stories of this injustice back to our communities and continue to stand in solidarity with the workers here until justice is achieved,” said Crowe.

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Available for interviews:

Oscar Salazar, Unite HERE Local 11: 323-244-7938

Martha Dina Arguello: 323-229-1145

Elizabeth Crowe: 859-200-8207