LA County District Attorney investigating local hotels for allegedly employing migrants to replace strikers

The Los Angeles County District Attorney has launched an investigation into local hotels' labor practices amid the largest hotel strike in U.S. history. 

Unite Here Local 11 alleged that the companies were employing homeless migrants to replace striking workers, whom the union represents. They alleged that many of the unhoused migrants were from Venezuela and worked in the housekeeping department. 

"I didn't even know which agency was hiring me, how much I was going to earn, how many hours I was going to work," said Sebastian, later translated by an interpreter. "I worked without a break, without permission to eat — doing the work of three or four people."

District Attorney George Gascón, who stood alongside union organizers and workers during the press conference, said the investigation is aimed at hotels in Santa Monica and the City of Los Angeles. Prosecutors will also look into allegations that the hotels hired minors to fill the positions. 

"We take these egregious allegations with the utmost seriousness," Gascón said. "The mistreatment of vulnerable workers and their exploitation will not be tolerated."

Unite Here said some of the migrants were from the buses Texas sent to Los Angeles throughout this year.