Protesting Pinoy hotel workers nabbed

SAN FRANCISCO, California – Police arrested protesting hotel workers that blocked a street leading to the Grand Hyatt Hotel.

About 200 workers joined a civil disobedience action as part of a nationwide day of action against hotels in the United States.

At least a third of those arrested were Filipino. They were released after being cited for impeding traffic.

Four Seasons Hotel housekeeper Anecita Manggana was one of those arrested.

“Bakit kami matatakot? Kailangang ipaglaban namin ang aming mga karapatan. Laban!” said Manggana.

The workers and their union are trying to stop major San Francisco hotels from making workers pay at least $200 a month in healthcare insurance. They said they cannot afford the extra cost on a $36,000 annual salary. However, hotel management said it can no longer absorb the full cost of health care.

The workers said San Francisco’s major hotels are planning to cluster job positions to save money.

“What’s going to happen is we’re going to lose some workers,” said Lorenzo Mercurio, a Parc55 Hotel worker who has been a waiter for more than 20 years.

“They’re going to cut some bussers. I’ll have to be a waiter and a busser. That’s more work for me, so that’s unfair. I’ll be doing someone else’s job,” he said.

Andy Lopez, a Grand Hyatt Hotel room attendant, said: “Kailangang makita nila na hindi kami aalis. We’re not going to go away. We’re going to be stronger and stronger.”

Grand Hyatt spokesperson Pete Hillan pointed out, “If the union were really focused on getting into a contract, they should also put in the same energy into the negotiating table where it belongs.”

After more than a year of negotiations, talks have stalled. Balitang America, Henni Espinosa, ABS-CBN North America News Bureau