More than 10,000 workers at 25 U.S. hotels were on strike Monday after choosing Labor Day weekend to amplify their demands for higher pay, fairer workloads and the reversal of COVID-era cuts.
The UNITE HERE union, which represents the striking housekeepers and other hospitality workers, said 200 workers at the Hilton Baltimore Inner Harbor were the latest to walk off the job.
Nearly half of the striking workers – or 5,000 – are in Honolulu. Thousands of workers are also on strike in Boston, San Francisco, Seattle, San Diego and San Jose, California. The strikes targeting Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt hotels were set to last one to three days.
UNITE HERE said a total of 15,000 workers have voted to authorize strikes, which could soon spread to other cities, including New Haven, Connecticut; Oakland, California; and Providence, Rhode Island.
Union President Gwen Mills says the strikes are part of long-standing battle to secure family-sustaining compensation for service workers on par with more traditionally male-dominated industries.
“Hospitality work overall is undervalued, and it’s not a coincidence that it’s disproportionately women and people of color doing the work,” Mills said.
Unionized housekeepers want to reinstate automatic daily room cleaning at major hotel chains, saying they have been saddled with unmanageable workloads, or in many cases, fewer hours and a decline in income. Many hotels cut services during the coronavirus pandemic and never restored them.
But hotels say guests are no longer asking for daily room cleaning and some other services.
Michael D’Angelo, the head of labor relations for Hyatt in the Americas, said in a statement Monday that the chain has contingency plans in place to minimize the impact of the strikes on hotel operations.
“We are disappointed that UNITE HERE has chosen to strike while Hyatt remains willing to negotiate,” D’Angelo said. “We look forward to continuing to negotiate fair contracts and recognize the contributions of Hyatt employees.”
Messages seeking comment were left with Marriott and Hilton on Monday.
Labor Day weekend is typically a time for relaxation and celebration in the United States, but for hotel workers across the country, this year’s holiday weekend was marked by picket lines and protests as thousands of employees went on strike to demand better wages and working conditions.
The strike, which affected hotels in major cities such as Chicago, San Francisco, Honolulu, and Boston, was organized by the union UNITE HERE, which represents workers in the hospitality industry. The union has been negotiating with hotel management for months, but talks have stalled over issues such as pay raises, healthcare benefits, and job security.
Hotel workers are among the lowest-paid employees in the service industry, with many earning minimum wage or just above it. They often work long hours, including weekends and holidays, and face challenging working conditions such as heavy lifting, exposure to chemicals, and dealing with difficult guests.
In addition to demanding higher wages, workers are also calling for improved healthcare benefits, including better coverage for mental health services and prescription drugs. Many hotel employees struggle to afford basic healthcare services and medications on their current salaries.
The strike has had a significant impact on the hotel industry, with some hotels reporting lower occupancy rates and canceled events due to the labor dispute. Guests have been forced to find alternative accommodations or cross picket lines to stay at affected hotels, leading to tense interactions between workers and guests.
Despite the challenges they face, hotel workers have remained united and determined to fight for their rights. They have received support from other labor unions, community organizations, and political leaders who have joined them on the picket lines and called for a fair resolution to the dispute.
As the strike continues into the holiday weekend, hotel workers are hopeful that their actions will lead to meaningful change in the industry and improve the lives of all hospitality workers. They are standing up for their rights and demanding to be treated with dignity and respect in their workplaces.
