In his annual Labor Day message to workers, Cardinal Roger Mahony emphasized decision-making that benefits the common good and the poor.

"Our work gives us the chance to join with others in the creation of a more just society, where the common good takes precedence over the greed of the few, and the needs of the stranger and the poor are not overlooked," said the cardinal at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels Sept. 6. More than 1,000 were in attendance, including former Gov. Gray Davis and local and state elected officials.

This year's liturgy highlighted the current labor struggles of 2,800 unionized hotel workers and non-union security guards. Hotel workers in Los Angeles are in contentious contract negotiations with hotel employers of nine hotels. Low wage security guards, who said they toil without health benefits or sick leave, are seeking to join Service Employees International Union.

And in light of the church's preferential option for the poor, the cardinal advocated measures that improve the lives of undocumented immigrants, including the issuing of drivers' licenses and the DREAM Act, an education initiative for immigrant students.

The cardinal also said he supported measures like Proposition 72 to extend health care insurance to more than one million uninsured Californians, the development of more affordable housing in Los Angeles, and voter registration drives at parishes.

Prior to the liturgy, about 200 hotel workers, joined by other union workers, elected officials and clergy, marched from downtown Pershing Square to the Cathedral.

Maria Elena Durazo, Unite-Here! Local 11 president, called contract negotiations between the union and the Hotel Employer Council a "tough battle."

A key issue is the length of the contract. Other top concerns include the maintenance of health benefits, workloads, sick days, fair wage increases, and expanded access of hotel jobs to the African American community.

The Hotel Employer Council has signed a lockout pact. Durazo said discussions are taking place with union members to evaluate a possible strike option. But she added that no date had been set by which to make that decision, as the union had promised federal mediators to continue good faith negotiations.

Carmin Moran, a housekeeper at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel for 15 years, said she hopes the contract dispute doesn't result in a strike, but will support it, if that's what the members decide. But the burden on her family would be significant, said the mother of three, because her husband works at the Sheraton Universal Hotel.

Elizabeth Conde, a 20-year veteran at Westin Bonaventure and a diabetic, said she worries about maintaining her health insurance and laments the ongoing tension between managers and hotel workers at her workplace.

"We'll fight to the end," added Conde in Spanish. "I have faith that this will be resolved and we will triumph."

The hotels involved include Westin Century Plaza, St. Regis, Sheraton Universal, Hyatt Regency (downtown L.A.), Hyatt West Hollywood, Wilshire Grand, Westin Bonaventure, Millennium Biltmore and the Regent Beverly Wilshire.

Editor's note: For Cardinal Roger Mahony's Labor Day homily, see www.the-tidings.com.