Over the Labor Day weekend, around 10,000 hotel workers in the United States went on strike, demanding better wages and working conditions.
These workers, represented by the UNITE HERE union, walked off the job in eight cities, including Boston, Honolulu, San Francisco, San Diego, and Seattle, after negotiations with major hotel chains such as Hilton, Hyatt, and Marriott failed to reach an agreement.
Despite the industry reporting record profits, the hotel industry refused to reverse cost-cutting measures implemented during the COVID-19 pandemic, which set off the strike. The industry has been under fire from Gwen Mills, International President of UNITE HERE, for continuing to offer fewer services, such as automated daily housekeeping and room service, which has put more strain on employees.
“Workers aren’t making enough to support their families, and many can no longer afford to live in the cities they serve,” Mills stated.
He added that the union rejects a “new normal” where hotel companies profit at the expense of both workers and guests.
Other cities, such as Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence, have also approved the strikes, which could start at any time. Until a new contract is negotiated, the union has asked guests to refrain from visiting or using the services of hotels that are part of the walkout.
Hyatt and other hotel chains expressed their dissatisfaction with the strike while underscoring their readiness to carry on with talks. Increased reservations during the US travel peak of Labor Day weekend put further strain on hotel operations during the walkout. Staffing shortages have been identified by the American Hotel and Lodging Association as a major problem, especially in housekeeping, which has made things more difficult for both employees and management.
The union’s recent victories in Southern California—where strikes resulted in notable pay increases and improved working conditions—have galvanized them to pursue comparable results across the country.
With input from the Associated Press, the Hill and Aljazeera.
