Pacific Beach Hotel workers rally to keep jobs secure

Workers at the Pacific Beach Hotel rallied yesterday against the hotel's owner, which is taking back management of the property on Dec. 1.

ILWU Local 142, which represents nearly 450 workers at the 837-room hotel, wants owner HTH Corp. to retain all of its workers when its management contract with Outrigger Enterprises Group affiliate PBH Management LLC is terminated at the end of November.

HTH has told workers to reapply for jobs next week, while the company reevaluates staffing levels, said Robert "Mick" Minicola, HTH regional vice president of operations.

Meanwhile, the union hasn't been able to secure a first contract for the workers since beginning negotiations in 2005 initially with HTH, which previously managed the property, and then PBH Management, which took over in January.