Long Beach Women Hotel Workers Rally Against Abuse

Rev. Elena Larssen asks local government outside the Long Beach City Hall on June 16 to address the issue of sexual harassment and heavy workloads in hotels. Photo by Crystal Niebla

Elizabeth Castillo, a nurse at the Long Beach Memorial and sexual assault forensic nurse specialist, speaks about the poor working environment of many female hotel workers outside the Long Beach City Hall. Photo by Crystal Niebla

Rosa Casarrubias, a banquet server at the Long Beach Westin Hotel, shares her story of sexual harassment and “inhumane” workloads outside the Long Beach City Hall on June 16. Photo by Crystal Niebla

Rev. Elena Larssen asks local government outside the Long Beach City Hall on June 16 to address the issue of sexual harassment and heavy workloads in hotels. Photo by Crystal Niebla

On June 16, Long Beach hotel workers, community activists and their families pose in solidarity outside the Long Beach City Hall, asking for better treatment of women hotel workers. Photo by Crystal Niebla

Long Beach Women Hotel Workers Rally Against Abuse

By Crystal Niebla, Contributing Reporter

LONG BEACH — More than 70 hotel workers, community activists and their families gathered outside the Long Beach City Hall on June 16 to speak up against poor working conditions in the Long Beach tourism industry.

“People shouldn’t be overworked, overwhelmed with their duties, especially if they’re being robbed [from] breaks, ” said Martin Rodriguez, who heard about the rally at a Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy, a social justice group.

Workers — mostly women — say they constantly are dealing not only with extreme workloads, but also, sexual harassment at hotels in Long Beach.

Rosa Casarrubias, a banquet server at the Long Beach Westin Hotel, shared her story.

“I’ve always remembered when I encountered a drunk guest [dressed] only in a towel,” Casarrubias said. “He kept saying, ‘Come on, honey, come inside to the room.’ Approaching me he asked, ‘What is your name? Where do you live? Do you like to drink? What are you doing after work?’ I was uncomfortable and scared. My heart was racing. I constantly kept looking around to see if anyone could help me, but there was nobody.”

According to Long Beach Coalition for a Good Job and Healthy Community, a recent international study revealed that 68 percent of sexual assaults go. Casarrubias also said that when workers complain, they are either ignored or disciplined.

“Many of us are told that it’s not a big deal, but rather, we should have a thicker skin,” she said.

“I am gravely concerned about the lack of safety that exists in our city’s hotels, especially of the treatment of the hard-working women,” said Elizabeth Castillo, sexual assault forensic nurse specialist,who works at the Long Beach Memorial.

Castillo said these women also are extremely overworked. In many cases, women are forced to clean without the proper tools and supplies, often on their hands and knees. Some women describe having to pick up hair out of carpet with their hands, she said.

“Imagine having to clean up to 20 rooms a day — that’s 20 toilets, 20 sinks, 20 floors and 20 bedrooms in only eight hours,” Castillo said. “It’s not humanly possible for one woman to do without a break [and] the rest to go to the bathroom, let alone eat lunch.”

“I, like many women, can’t even have a restroom break because we have to be on the floor the whole time attending guest orders,” Casarrubias said. “I want to see change.”