We turn now to a local issue here in LA which has gained national significance because of the Democratic National Convention here this week. It is the issue of the attempt of workers for the Loews Hotel chain here to unionize. Loews is being used as the headquarters for the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee during the convention. Interestingly, the chief executive of Loews, Jonathan Tisch is a close personal friend of Al Gore. He has invested more than $150,000 over two years to stoke Gore’s campaign.

Employees of Loews accuse Tisch of cracking down on their attempts to unionize the Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel. Hundreds of workers seeking to unionize are escalating their protests this week. This weekend those workers protested and rallied against Loews, while five hundred people demonstrated outside the hotel on Thursday. In all, some 60 protesters were arrested.

Guest:

• Maria Elena Durazo, President of Local 11 of the Hotel and Restaurant workers.
• Fabian Gonalzez, a waiter at the Lowes Hotel and part of the Organizing committee to unionize the hotel