“I stand with Unite HERE in their fight for a living wage,” she told POLITICO in a prepared statement. “And I hope we can use this moment to bring attention to the hardworking men and women who are the engine of our economy.”
In the open letter to Swift, Kounalakis and the others wrote that the tour makes area hotels lots of money — with Los Angeles area businesses “doubling and tripling what they charge because you are coming.”
At the same time, the group wrote, many hotel housekeepers and other workers in the region can’t afford to live close to their jobs and some sleep in their cars and risk losing their homes.
“Hotel workers are fighting for their lives. They are fighting for a living wage. They have gone on strike. Now, they are asking for your support,” they wrote. “Speak Now! Stand with hotel workers and postpone your concerts.”
The union had made a similar request in recent days over its rolling strikes, then began circulating a draft letter to win over support from elected officials as a sign of escalation and with the concerts starting later this week.
The striking workers from dozens of hotels want higher pay and better benefits and together with writers and actors have formed something of a hot labor summer. The strikes have been a disruption in the region, with several politicians joining workers in their demonstrations.
Earlier, California Gov. Gavin Newsom vowed not to cross a picket line at the Beverly Hilton or other Southern California hotels embroiled in the hotel strike. The Democratic Governors Association’s annual summer conference was moved to the downtown Westin Bonaventure, and Newsom didn’t end up attending. First partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom went in his place.
Kounalakis is the top official in the state to sign onto the letter. Others who formally joined the hotel housekeeping union’s drive include former Rep. Janice Hahn, now chair of the powerful Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, state Sen. Dave Min, a candidate for the House in Orange County, and Assembly Majority Leader Issac Bryan, as well as mayors from several Southern California cities.
The mayor of Inglewood, where Swift is performing, is not among the signatories.