ARLINGTON, Virginia—About 75 people participated in a spirited march and picket line here in support of a union-organizing drive at Sheraton Crystal City Hotel February 27. Sheraton workers, joined by other hotel workers organized by UNITE HERE, college students, and labor activists demanded an end to harassment by the hotel owners, HEI Hotels and Resorts.

Hermán Romero, a former cook at the hotel, said he was fired after management saw him at an earlier picket line. He was later called back to work in housekeeping, but with a $2.50 an hour cut in pay. “The work is really hard,” he said, “they’ve increased the workload.”

—GLOVA SCOTT