Contracts, Crises, & the Cost of Survival: LA's Hospitality Fight with Kurt Petersen, Co-President Unite Here Episode 143

Episode notes

What if the 2028 Olympics didn't just bring medals, but a housing revolution? In this episode of Future of Work, Dr. Salvatrice Cummo sits down with Kurt Peterson, Co-President of Unite Here Local 11, to explore the mounting pressures facing hospitality workers in Los Angeles, and the explosive opportunity that the 2028 Olympics might represent. Peterson doesn't mince words. From natural disasters like wildfires to economic disruptions like COVID-19, hospitality workers have repeatedly borne the brunt of crisis after crisis. And while tourism is rebounding, the industry's recovery has largely left workers behind. Peterson argues that the real crisis now isn't just wages, it's housing. As the world turns its eyes toward LA in 2028, Peterson makes one thing clear: if the Olympics can afford luxury, it can and must afford dignity, equity, and a place for workers to call home. You'll learn: What mega-events like the Olympics could mean for Labor Rights. How employers use crises to cut labor and what unions are doing about it. How housing became the central fight for LA workers. Why the decommissioned Santa Monica Airport could be LA's housing lifeline.