International Women's Day often gets short shrift in the United States, its places of birth, but in San Antonio, women's groups are raising its profile—and a little hell—while bolstering a hotel organizing drive.
The first contract signed June 4 at the Hilton Hotel in Glendale, California is nothing to sneeze at these days—modest raises, health care costs cut in half, and relief from a crushing workload. But its significance for hotel workers struggling to lift standards nationwide is even greater. In September 2005, the Los Angeles-area Hilton was where UNITE HERE launched its Hotel Workers Rising campaign. . . .