California Officials Plead with Taylor Swift to Postpone Tour in Solidarity with Hotel Workers
By Sarah Cassuto | August 3, 2023 | 5:40am
California politicians are urging pop superstar Taylor Swift to postpone the last leg of her sold-out Eras Tour in support of striking hotel employees in Los Angeles. The plea comes from officials, including California’s Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, who attended one of the singer’s recent concerts.
The union representing over 32,000 hospitality workers in Southern California and Arizona, Unite Here Local 11, wrote a letter to Swift expressing their support for hotel housekeepers in Los Angeles. The letter highlighted the struggles faced by these workers who are struggling to make ends meet despite their crucial roles in the industry.
Swift is scheduled to perform six nights at SoFi Stadium, with the first concert scheduled for Thursday. However, fifty-three California officials, including Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis, state Senator Dave Min, and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors chair Janice Hahn, have signed the letter asking the singer to postpone the tour.
Lieutenant Governor Kounalakis, who attended Swift’s recent show at Levis Stadium in San Francisco, expressed her support for the hotel workers through a tweet. Hotel workers in California have been on strike for higher wages and increased benefits, citing the inability to sustain themselves in the expensive Los Angeles area.
Unite Here Local 11 is demanding a $5 per hour increase in wages immediately, followed by an additional $3 per hour raise each year for the next two years. They are also seeking additional healthcare benefits for the workers. The union emphasized the significant economic impact of Swift’s tour, with hotels doubling and tripling their charges during her performances. However, many workers cannot afford to live near their workplace and are even sleeping in their cars between shifts.
Forbes reported that Swift’s Eras Tour has had a significant impact on the local economies of the cities she visits. In cities like Cincinnati and Chicago, her performances brought in millions of dollars in revenue for the hotel industry.
Despite the request to delay the tour, Swift expressed her excitement for the upcoming shows in Los Angeles on Instagram. She will begin the international leg of the tour in Mexico on August 24.
It remains to be seen whether Swift will heed the call from California officials and show solidarity with the striking hotel workers.