Andres Tobar joined Delegate Adam Ebbin (D-49) and more than 40 union supporters Friday afternoon, March 27, in a spirited picket line at the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel, 1800 Jefferson Davis Highway, Arlington. The picket line protested anti-labor union action by HEI, the national owner/operator of the Sheraton Crystal City Hotel. HEI hotel bosses laid off three longtime, hardworking kitchen employees — Hermen Romero, a cook at Sheraton Crystal City for five years; Santana Alvarez, a dishwasher for 18 years; and Saturnino Ortega, a dishwasher for two years. All three are union supporters.

Andres Tobar and Adam Ebbin (D-49) join the picket line at the Sheraton Crystal City.

These layoffs came just weeks after a delegation of HEI employees, students and community supporters asked the management for a fair and democratic process for workers at the hotel to voice their preference for union representation.

Tobar commented, “I am proud to join Delegate Adam Ebbin on the picket line with the hotel workers in their quest for justice. In Arlington, we not only need a fair wage, we support a living wage.”

Andres Tobar and Adam Ebbin along with the protestors.

Andres Tobar was a twenty year active member of AFGE 2607 during his career in the U.S. Department of Education.

Note: Delegate Adam Ebbin is not endorsing any candidate in the 47th District race. Tobar and Ebbin share a mutual respect for each others commitment to fight for our community’s most vulnerable, as demonstrated by their show of support for the workers’ plight.