The petition
To: Members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists
Attn: Mary Reimersma, Executive Director of CAMFT and Michele Hyson, CAMFT’ s Conference and Professional Development Director
Whereas, Marriage and Family Therapists and other mental health professionals take an acute and compassionate interest in alleviating human suffering,
Whereas, MFTs and other mental health professionals encourage clients to be assertive and not passively endure maltreatment,
Whereas, MFTs and other mental health professionals identify poverty, socioeconomic status, and discrimination as having an impact on the physical and psychological well-being of an individual,
Whereas, the workers at the Hilton LAX earn poverty wages and many cannot afford adequate health coverage for themselves or their families,
Whereas, National Labor Relations Board has issued a complaint and notice of hearing against the Hilton LAX alleging that its suspension of 77 workers in May of 2006 were illegal retaliation for peaceful organizing activity protected by federal law,
Whereas, The National Labor Relations Board has also included in the complaint allegations of more than 20 Unfair Labor Practice charges including surveillance, interrogations and an act and threats of physical violence,
Whereas, a parent company of Hilton LAX owners donated $235,000 to reverse a Los Angeles City Council ordinance that would have mandated a living wage be paid to Hilton LAX workers,
Whereas, federal filings show that the Hilton LAX paid Lupe Cruz & Associates, a prominent union-busting firm, $480,000 in 2006 to fight the workers’ organizing effort,
Whereas, workers of the Hilton LAX have called for a boycott of their own hotel since August 2006 to aid them in their struggle,
Whereas, CAMFT has refused to honor the worker-called boycott at the Hilton LAX,
We the undersigned call upon all members of the California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists NOT to attend the Winter Workshops at the Hilton LAX in January 2008 in solidarity and support of the workers, and urge CAMFT to hold all of its future events at locations that treat workers with dignity and respect.
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