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Natalie Rubalcava: The way forward on hotel worker safety in Anaheim

June 27, 2023

Everyone should feel safe doing their job. On that we can all agree.

On Tuesday night, the Anaheim City Council has the chance to bring added peace of mind to those who do so much to make our city a great place to visit.

We are set to take a second and final vote on a hotel worker safety ordinance I proposed for our city.

The proposal builds on what many Anaheim hotels already do to keep their housekeepers and other staff safe.

It’s also something near to me.

Growing up, I remember my grandmother working as a housekeeper at motels along Harbor Boulevard across from Disneyland.

My grandmother worked at the former Sands Motel and a neighboring motel in the 1980s.

Thankfully, she never encountered threats to her personal safety and was treated like family.

But I can’t help but think of her when it comes to the housekeepers who make up such a critical part of our visitor economy today.

The safety and security of hotel workers has been part of a larger debate playing out in Anaheim for the past few weeks.

It’s a debate that will continue in the months ahead.

On Tuesday, my council colleagues and I are set to also consider an Oct. 3 special election for a proposed hotel and event worker wage initiative that includes some security provisions.

The initiative, developed by Unite Here Local 11, calls for a $25 minimum wage for hotel and event center workers along with various work rules. It also includes security provisions similar to those the Council will be voting on tonight.

The council had the option to either adopt the initiative outright or to place the matter before voters.

While there is a conversation to be had about wages as inflation impacts the daily lives of Anaheim residents and workers, I believe that decision is best left to voters.

The initiative is broad, impacting every hotel, large or small, and the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim Convention Center, Angel Stadium of Anaheim, Honda Center and private event centers across our city.

The potential impact to Anaheim’s budget is concerning. The city-owned convention center could see higher yearly wage and other impacts of up to $8.6 million, resulting in less money from conventions for city services.

Anaheim’s hotel revenue, our primary funding for public safety, community services and city obligations, also stands to be impacted. If the initiative is adopted, Anaheim’s hotels will need to raise room rates to absorb higher operating costs, which will result in fewer guest stays, according to a city commissioned report. By 2028, Anaheim could see $4 million less in hotel tax revenue if the initiative is adopted.

But addressing basic worker safeguards is something we can reasonably do.

The ordinance coming before the Council for a final vote would require all Anaheim hotels to provide security devices to workers cleaning guestrooms and restrooms.

The devices could be activated if a worker is threatened by a guest or anyone else or to signal a fire or other emergency.

Hotels would need to monitor security devices and respond.

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Just as important, the proposal would require advanced notice to guests about worker safety rules and warn that violations will result in removal at their own expense.

The proposed ordinance would also require paid worker safety training and time to report incidents to police, management tracking of incidents for awareness and remedying, and guidance on when to use a device or just call police.

Our council heard from hotel workers who shared concerns about feeling unsafe and who said they had experienced sexual harassment.

Safety is my No. 1 priority. We can’t wait for safety provisions in an initiative or leave such an important matter to voters.

We need to adopt this ordinance now and lead the way on worker safety for California’s hospitality industry.

Natalie Rubalcava is mayor pro tem of the city of Anaheim.

Orange County Register

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Natalie Rubalcava: The way forward on hotel worker safety in Anaheim

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