Arizona Diamondbacks face criticism for LA hotel stay amid ongoing labor dispute
A union of more than 32,000 hospitality workers criticized the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday for choosing to stay at a hotel facing a labor dispute and boycott.
UNITE HERE Local 11 is a union for laborers working in restaurants, airports, sports arenas and convention centers in Southern California and Arizona. In a statement posted to X, the group accused the team of staying at JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE for a second time amid the dispute.
The union said workers at the hotel have been fighting for a new contract since July. Hotel workers have called for a boycott of Los Angeles-area hotels until they win a living wage. Rachele Smith, a spokesperson for the union, said JW Marriott workers are not on strike but "workers have called for a boycott of LA hotels that are currently in contract fights."
The Diamondbacks have stayed at the hotel for at least five years.
“The workers ask the Arizona Diamondbacks to honor their picket line and move to a hotel, like the Biltmore Los Angeles or Westin Bonaventure, that has agreed to provide a living wage,” the union’s statement said.
ESPN reported that Lionel Messi and Inter Miami changed plans to stay at a hotel in Santa Monica in September after UNITE HERE Local 11 called for the team to find alternative accommodations.
“If one of the biggest sports starts in the world … can change hotels to support workers, so can (the Diamondbacks),” the union statement said.
UNITE HERE Local 11 said the workers have asked the Diamondbacks to honor their picket line and move to a hotel that has agreed to pay their workers a living age. The group also stated that the Major League Baseball Players Association formally requested that the MLB avoid using the hotel.
Chris Dahl, a spokesperson for the MLBPA, confirmed the formal request but declined to provide further comment.
The Diamondbacks issued a statement on X where they said they were made aware of the situation on social media, but due to "unique and demanding travel accommodations," they would be unable to relocate.
The Diamondbacks said they support the rights of individuals to receive fair and equitable compensation.
A spokesperson for JW Marriott could not be reached for comment.
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: AZ Diamondbacks face criticism from union for Los Angeles hotel stay
