Bullhorns, Whistles And Drums: Beverly Hills Sues Hotel Union Over Early-Morning Picketing

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Claiming that striking hotel workers' drums, bullhorns and early mornings create a public nuisance, the city of Beverly Hills is suing the union that represents employees of the Beverly Hilton and Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills. And the union says the city's attempt to limit the protests' hours infringes on demonstrators' free-speech rights.

In a court complaint filed Tuesday against Unite Here Local 11, city officials have asked a judge to restrict demonstrations to between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. Picket lines have been assembling outside the adjacent Beverly Hills hotels as early as 5:30 a.m., with picketers shouting, blowing whistles and using drums and bullhorns, the city's suit alleges.

Union Co-President Kurt Petersen issued a statement in response to the suit on Wednesday.

"It is beyond outrageous that the city of Beverly Hills is using its resources to stifle the First Amendment-protected protest activity of low-wage, immigrant workers," the statement read. "These are workers who make its luxury hotels run and who are simply seeking a living wage. The city should be helping to lift them up, not attack them with baseless lawsuits."

The city's suit claims that city officials have asked union leaders several times to quiet down and start their demonstrations no earlier than 8 a.m. to no avail.

Unite Here represents restaurant workers, housekeepers and front desk staff at dozens of Southland hotels. The union throughout the summer has staged strikes at prominent hotels throughout the region amid a stalemate in contract negotiations over wage increases, according to reports.

City News Service contributed to this report.