What’s behind the hotel workers’ strike days before national holiday

Thousands of Los Angeles hotel employees walked off their jobs Sunday morning, two days before Independence Day, after contract negotiations stalled, union officials said.

The strike may be one of the largest in Los Angeles history and is part of a string of union actions affecting various California industries this year. Labor leaders point to rising expenses in California as one reason for union action, but some employers say unions are merely seeking to increase their political influence.