DEMONSTRATORS CLOSE CENTURY BLVD.

Byline: SUE DOYLE Staff Writer

A publicity stunt to unionize hotel employees working near LAX drew about 1,500 demonstrators to Century Boulevard, which was shut down during rush hour.

Organized by Unite Here -- a union that represents more than 450,000 workers in hotels, casinos and restaurants nationwide -- protesters wore T-shirts emblazoned with slogans like ``I am a human being'' and chanted for higher hourly wages.

Union officials have tied immigration to their struggle, saying they want to boost their own ranks by organizing nonunion workers at hotels near Los Angeles International Airport. They say the largely immigrant work force earns about $10 less an hour than union workers doing the same jobs in other big cities.

``Immigrants work in several industries that pay at poverty levels. We don't want anybody at poverty levels. That's our motivation,'' said Maria Elena Durazo, secretary and treasurer of the Los Angeles Federation of Labor, which oversees all unions in Los Angeles County, totaling some 845,000 workers.

Durazo said Unite Here has been actively involved in immigration rights for years and is against guest worker programs, border enforcement and other pieces of legislation before Congress. Instead, the union supports legislation to fully legalize all workers.

Crown Plaza Hotel General Manager Michael Payton watched as the procession with signs, bullhorns and drums stomped down Century Boulevard. Payton said there had been no discussion before Thursday about unionizing employees at the hotel.

``We are not pro- or anti- union,'' he said. ``We believe we will be fair with employees, as we always have been.''

Despite weeks of planning, the event attracted far fewer housekeepers, dishwashers and food service workers than anticipated by union leaders.

Unite Here belongs to the We Are America coalition, which staged massive immigration- rights demonstrations in major cities, including Los Angeles, this summer.

Maria Gonzalez, 36, marched with other housekeepers from the Beverly Hilton hotel, where employees are already unionized. Gonzalez was grateful that unions are focusing on immigrants, who are finding their voice in national politics.

``We get more support from everybody when the union is involved,'' Gonzalez said. ``It gives us more strength.''

sue.doyle(at)dailynews.com

[phone]

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

Hundreds of protesters shut down Century Boulevard on Thursday afternoon during a march in support of LAX-area hotel workers and their desire to unionize. Nearly 300 were arrested during the rush-hour demonstration, police said.

Gene Blevins/Special to the Daily News