Latest news with #housekeepers
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Employees strike at Hilton Sacramento Arden West hotel over housekeeper workload
Workers at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West went on strike Saturday to protest housekeeper workload, which the union's local chapter president said is higher than any other unionized hotel in Sacramento. Unite Here Local 49 President Aamir Deen said he didn't know of any unionized workers that did not participate in the strike from 5 a.m. to 6 p.m., but he said the hotel remained open as managerial employees tried to fill the gaps with temporary workers or staff from other hotels. The union represents housekeepers, the largest group of hotel workers, as well as many other employees including dishwashers, servers and front desk workers. Deen said he hopes to come to a resolution with the hotel after the strike and that 'escalating the economic action' is a possibility if an agreement is not reached. Hilton Sacramento Arden West management and Hilton corporate representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Saturday. Currently, housekeepers clean between 15 and 30 rooms per shift based on a credit system where a room a guest has checked out of is worth one credit while a room a guest is returning to is worth one-half of a credit. Deen said the hotel has agreed to cap rooms cleaned per shift at 24, which he said is still 'far too many' and significantly more than the 15 or fewer rooms housekeepers are required to clean at other unionized Sacramento hotels. Hilton Sacramento Arden West also had a 15-room cap until late 2024, he said. Deen said housekeepers are often required to clean a room every 15 minutes, which leads to injuries and less-clean rooms. 'They want to be able to clean the rooms to the standard that our guests demand, and management insists on making them clean rooms every 15 minutes, and you just can't get all of the nooks and crannies in 15 minutes,' Deen said. 'All of the other union hotels have agreed to these same terms. We just want to have a fair playing field.' The union has been in contract negotiations with the hotel since late 2024, Deen said, and has reached an agreement on most issues outside of housekeeper workload. Dora Gomez, a housekeeper who has been working at the hotel for 18 years, said the increased workload has caused injuries to her back, shoulders and feet. Gomez also said there have been a lot of guest complaints since the change due to problems like increased dust and stained showers that were created by the decreased time cleaning each room. 'When we have to clean more rooms, we can't provide the same quality. They want us to give quantity and quality, but we can't. That's not possible,' Gomez said through a translator. 'We want to be treated like people.' Rosalba Ubaquae, a housekeeper who has been working at the hotel for two years, said housekeepers without seniority are struggling to get enough hours to make a living wage while those with seniority, who are typically older, are forced to work so much it is causing injuries. Ubaquae said the hours she currently gets are 'impossible' to live off, forcing her to look for second jobs at multiple points during the year. 'We want the people who've been here for 30 years, who are more than 60 years of age, to have a job with dignity, and not have to have their bodies break down from the heavy workload,' Ubaquae said through a translator.
Fox News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Fox News
Smokey Robinson faces new scrutiny after 2015 sexual assault investigation closed
Motown legend Smokey Robinson is once again under scrutiny with renewed allegations of sexual assault. Authorities investigated a previous sexual assault allegation against Robinson in 2015, but no charges were filed due to insufficient evidence, prosecutors said Friday. The Los Angeles County District Attorney's office confirmed the decade-old investigation and its decision to decline charges in a statement Friday. The office said no details would be provided because of the current investigation of Robinson. Robinson's attorney, Christopher Frost, said in a statement they are "pleased" the district attorney "confirmed there was no basis to file charges a decade ago." "One unfortunate aspect of celebrity is that it is not uncommon to be the target of spurious and unsubstantiated allegations," Frost said. "Mr. Robinson looks forward to the conclusion of the current investigation and has no doubt that a similar determination will be reached here."Robinson, 85, was accused of sexual misconduct and false imprisonment May 6 in a $50 million lawsuit filed by four unnamed former employees, according to documents obtained by Fox News Digital. The lawsuit said Robinson harassed and assaulted his former housekeepers who worked at his Chatsworth home between 2006 and 2024. Frances, Robinson's wife of 25 years, was also accused of perpetuating a "hostile work environment." Robinson's attorney previously called the housekeepers' allegations "vile" and "false." Earlier this week, Robinson and his wife filed a $500 million cross-complaint against the former staff members. In court documents filed Wednesday in LA Superior Court, the couple accuse the four Jane Does and their legal representatives of slander, financial elder abuse, intentional infliction of emotional distress, invasion of privacy, civil conspiracy and other claims. The lawsuit alleges that the accusations against Robinson were "fabricated in support of their extortionate scheme." The documents further stated that "Mr. and Ms. Robinson did not view, or treat, people in their employ as just employees. They treated them as extended family." According to the cross-complaint, the Robinsons had vacationed with the accusers, exchanged gifts and celebrated holidays and birthdays together. The lawsuit stated that the plaintiffs "asked for and accepted help from the Robinsons, including several thousands of dollars, monetary support for members of at least one Plaintiff's family, clothes, dental surgery, and even a car." The Jane Does' lawyers, John Harris and Herbert Hayden, who were named as defendants in the Robinsons' cross-complaint along with their firm Harris & Hayden, responded to the lawsuit in a statement to Fox News Digital. "The cross-complaint filed by Mr. Christopher Frost on behalf of William 'Smokey' Robinson and Frances Robinson is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault," they said. "It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward. This type of retaliatory litigation is precisely what California's anti-SLAPP laws were enacted to prevent." Robinson is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame. He was a key figure in the Motown Records machine of the 1960s as both an artist and a writer and was one of the top hitmakers of the era with songs like "Tears of a Clown" and "The Tracks of My Tears."
BreakingNews.ie
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- BreakingNews.ie
Smokey Robinson sues former housekeepers for defamation over rape allegations
Smokey Robinson has filed a defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of rape and prompted a police investigation. Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson filed the counterclaim on Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the women and their lawyers, whose allegations, they say, were 'fabricated in an extortionate scheme'. Advertisement The filing is a fast and forceful legal and public pushback from the 85-year-old Motown music luminary in response to the women's May 6 lawsuit and a May 15 announcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that its Special Victims Bureau is 'actively investigating criminal allegations' against Robinson. The women are seeking at least 50 million dollars, alleging Smokey Robinson repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them in his home when they worked for him between 2007 and 2024. They said Frances Robinson, a co-defendant, enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The counterclaim opens with friendly text messages from the women to contradict their claims against Robinson, whose songs, including Tears Of A Clown and The Tracks Of My Tears, established him among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s. Advertisement The filing says the women 'stayed with the Robinsons year after year', holidayed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and 'even a car'. The filing — which includes photos from the holidays and gatherings as exhibits — says that despite the couple's generosity, the women 'secretly harboured resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth'. 'Unfortunately, the depths of Plaintiffs' avarice and greed know no bounds,' the counterclaim says. 'During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons.' Advertisement John Harris and Herbert Hayden, attorneys for the former housekeepers, said in a statement that the defamation suit 'is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal manoeuvre designed to re-victimise, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.' The lawyers said they intend to get the Robinsons' lawsuit thrown out by invoking California's laws against using the courts to silence and intimidate people who sue. The four women, whose names are withheld in their lawsuit, each allege that Robinson would wait until they were alone with him in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. Advertisement The Sheriff's Department would give no details on its investigation beyond confirming its existence. Robinson, who was a central figure in the Motown Records machine with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
The Independent
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Smokey Robinson sues former housekeepers for defamation over rape allegations
Smokey Robinson has filed a defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of rape and prompted a police investigation. Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson filed the counterclaim Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the women and their lawyers, whose allegations, they say, were 'fabricated in an extortionate scheme.' The filing is a fast and forceful legal and public pushback from the 85-year-old Motown music luminary in response to the women's May 6 lawsuit and a May 15 announcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that its Special Victims Bureau is 'actively investigating criminal allegations' against Robinson. The women are seeking at least $50 million, alleging Smokey Robinson repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them in his home when they worked for him between 2007 and 2024. They said Frances Robinson, a co-defendant, enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The counterclaim opens with friendly text messages from the women to contradict their claims against Robinson, whose songs, including 'Tears of a Clown' and 'The Tracks of My Tears," established him among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s. The filing says the women 'stayed with the Robinsons year after year,' vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and 'even a car.' The filing — which includes photos from the vacations and gatherings as exhibits — says that despite the couple's generosity, the women 'secretly harbored resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth.' 'Unfortunately, the depths of Plaintiffs' avarice and greed know no bounds,' the counterclaim says. 'During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons.' John Harris and Herbert Hayden, attorneys for the former housekeepers, said in a statement that the defamation suit 'is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.' The lawyers said they intend to get the Robinsons' lawsuit thrown out by invoking California's laws against using the courts to silence and intimidate people who sue. The four women, whose names are withheld in their lawsuit, each allege that Robinson would wait until they were alone with him in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. The Sheriff's Department would give no details on its investigation beyond confirming its existence. Robinson, who was a central figure in the Motown Records machine with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Associated Press
29-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Associated Press
Smokey Robinson sues former housekeepers for defamation over rape allegations
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Smokey Robinson has filed a defamation lawsuit against four former housekeepers who accused him of rape and prompted a police investigation. Robinson and his wife Frances Robinson filed the counterclaim Wednesday in Los Angeles Superior Court against the women and their lawyers, whose allegations, they say, were 'fabricated in an extortionate scheme.' The filing is a fast and forceful legal and public pushback from the 85-year-old Motown music luminary in response to the women's May 6 lawsuit and a May 15 announcement from the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department that its Special Victims Bureau is 'actively investigating criminal allegations' against Robinson. The women are seeking at least $50 million, alleging Smokey Robinson repeatedly raped and sexually assaulted them in his home when they worked for him between 2007 and 2024. They said Frances Robinson, a co-defendant, enabled him and created an abusive workplace. The counterclaim opens with friendly text messages from the women to contradict their claims against Robinson, whose songs, including 'Tears of a Clown' and 'The Tracks of My Tears,' established him among the biggest hitmakers of the 1960s. The filing says the women 'stayed with the Robinsons year after year,' vacationed with them, celebrated holidays with them, exchanged gifts with them, asked for tickets to his concerts, and sought and received help from them including money for dental surgery, financial support for a disabled family member, and 'even a car.' The filing — which includes photos from the vacations and gatherings as exhibits — says that despite the couple's generosity, the women 'secretly harbored resentment for the Robinsons and sought to enrich themselves through the Robinsons' wealth.' 'Unfortunately, the depths of Plaintiffs' avarice and greed know no bounds,' the counterclaim says. 'During the very time that the Robinsons were being extraordinarily generous with Plaintiffs, Plaintiffs were concocting an extortionate plan to take everything from the Robinsons.' John Harris and Herbert Hayden, attorneys for the former housekeepers, said in a statement that the defamation suit 'is nothing more than an attempt to silence and intimidate the survivors of Mr. Robinson's sexual battery and assault. It is a baseless and vindictive legal maneuver designed to re-victimize, shift blame and discourage others from coming forward.' The lawyers said they intend to get the Robinsons' lawsuit thrown out by invoking California's laws against using the courts to silence and intimidate people who sue. The four women, whose names are withheld in their lawsuit, each allege that Robinson would wait until they were alone with him in his Los Angeles house and then sexually assault and rape them. One woman said she was assaulted at least 20 times while working for Robinson from 2012 until 2024. Another said she worked for him from 2014 until 2020 and was assaulted at least 23 times. The Sheriff's Department would give no details on its investigation beyond confirming its existence. Robinson, who was a central figure in the Motown Records machine with his group the Miracles and as a solo artist, is a member of both the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
