SF Hotels have continued the lock-out of of Approximately 3,500 UNITE HERE Local 2 hotel workers that began on Oct 13th. Union negotiators and the Multi-Employer Group (MEG) have been negotiating a new contract with many fallouts and disagreements. According to Union officals, under the contract being offered by the MEG "hotel workers would end up paying an average of $860 in higher health care costs". Other disputes remain regarding the length of the contract and pension contributions from hotels.

Kaiser Permanente and UNITE HERE Local 2 president recently announced that Kaiser Permanente will be extending benefits to workers free of charge for an additional 2 months. Workers and union officials were worried that Local 2 members would loose coverage Dec 1st because of a decision to cut healthcare benefits made by the MEG.

Meanwhile, independent community action has been heating up. Among the most recent support actions, the Halloween critical mass of around 3,000 bicyclists circled hotels and showed support for the hotel workers. While Anti-war protests have also vistited the pickets-lines on numerous occasions. More recently, supporters and hotel workers joined together to picket the Vienna Gloriosa -- a gala event that was held at the Palace Hotwel benefiting the Philharmonia Baroque Orchestra. The Orchestra refused to cross the picket lines, but, the event still took place. Socialite guests were treated to picketers dressed up in French colonial garb spreading a benner saying "The Revolution is Now".

Future actions include a support rally organized by the Million Worker March community and the SF Labor council on Nov 20th in Union Square. Flying pickets have also been held every Sunday at 7pm starting in Union Square, and will continue until the labor dipute is over.