Thousands of hotel workers launch Labor Day weekend strike action
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Striking hotel workers outside a Hilton Hotel in Boston, Massachusetts. Photo: Unite Here/X
Some 10,000 hotel workers began on Sunday a Labor Day weekend strike after contract negotiations with hotel operators Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott broke down, the Unite Here union announced.
The big picture: Hotel workers in more cities were expected in the coming days to join the strikes that affected some 24 hotels in eight cities on Sunday, as workers push for higher wages and against "COVID-era staffing and service cuts," per a union statement.
- Cities affected by the strikes that are expected to last two or three days include: Boston, Greenwich, Honolulu, Kauai, San Diego, San Francisco, San Jose and Seattle.
- "Strikes have also been authorized and could begin at any time in Baltimore, New Haven, Oakland, and Providence," per Unite Here.
Driving the news: The union said "many hotels took advantage" of pandemic staffing cuts and guest services "that were never restored, causing workers to lose jobs and income — and creating painful working conditions for those who carry the increased workload."
- Workers say their wages "aren't enough to cover the cost of living, and many have to work two jobs to make ends meet," according to Unite Here.
What they're saying: "I have to work a second job because my job at the hotel is not enough to support my kids as a single mom," said Mary Taboniar, a housekeeper at the Hilton Hawaiian Village in Honolulu for six years, in a statement carried by the union.
- "I'm living on the edge where I'm not sure if I'll be able to pay our rent and groceries or provide my family with health care. It's so stressful. One job should be enough."
- Elena Duran, a server at Marriott's Palace Hotel in San Francisco for 33 years, said since the pandemic began, "they're expecting us to give five-star service with three-star staff."
The other side: Michael D'Angelo, Hyatt's head of labor relations for the Americas, said in a statement shared with outlets including Axios that the hotel chain had plans in effect to minimize strike destruction and said the firm is "disappointed that UNITE HERE has chosen to strike while Hyatt remains willing to negotiate."
- A Hilton spokesperson said in a statement that the hotel chain was "committed to negotiating in good faith to reach fair and reasonable agreements that are beneficial to both our valued Team Members and to our hotels."
- Representatives for the Marriott didn't immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
Zoom out: The American Hotel And Lodging Association, the trade group representing major hotel operators, said in a statement that in the six months to June 86% of its members reported an increase in wages.
- "Since the pandemic, average hotel wages (+26.4%) have increased more than 20% faster than average wages throughout the general economy," the AHLA said in a separate June blog post.
What we're watching: "Over 40,000 hotel workers with the UNITE HERE union have contracts up for renegotiation this year in more than 20 cities across the U.S. and Canada, and additional strike votes may be announced," per a union statement in July.
Editor's note: This article has been updated with further context and comment.
