The American Anthropological Association announced last month it was cancelling its annual meeting planned for San Francisco Nov. 17-21 to protest the lockout of unionized employees at a group of the city's hotels - including the Hilton, where 5,000 anthropologists had planned to stay.

The hotel lockout, which affected more than 4,000 members of UNITE HERE Local 2, was "unconscionable," AAA president Elizabeth Brumfiel said Nov. 10.

The hotel workers have been without a contract since August. The lockout started Oct. 1 after talks between the union and the hotels broke down Sept. 15.

"Management has locked workers out of their jobs in order to pressure them into accepting terms favorable to the hotels," Brumfiel said. "Anthropologists cannot, in all good conscience, meet in facilities whose owners are using the lockout of low-wage workers as a bargaining tactic."

The hotel lockout ended Nov. 20, but the dispute is far from over. The union continues to encourage city visitors to "seek alternative lodging in San Francisco."

The AAA annual meeting is now scheduled for Dec. 15-19 in Atlanta, Georgia.