The first major LA hotel in the Unite Here battle signs pact

According to this article in the LA Times, the Beverly Hilton has signed a one-year pact with the the Unite Here union--which the union should like, since its goal has been to get all the contracts to expire simultaneously in 2006. That would give it the potential to call a nationwide strike, which of course increases its bargaining power exponentially. While smaller hotels in LA have already given way, as have hotels in Boston, New York, and Chicago, the major chains in Los Angeles have been holding out. Until now. Stay tuned...