Hotel Del Coronado workers could join ongoing local union strike
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About 700 unionized hotel workers in San Diego have been striking for weeks, and hundreds more from Hotel Del Coronado are poised to join them next month.
Why it matters: The union workers at Hilton properties, including housekeepers, concierge staff and bartenders, are pushing for higher wages, staffing increases and better working conditions and workloads affected by COVID-era cuts.
The big picture: The local walkout at Hilton San Diego Bayfront hotel started over Labor Day weekend as part of a nationwide three-day strike of about 10,000 workers at Hilton, Hyatt and Marriott properties in multiple cities.
- Workers say their pay isn't "enough to cover the cost of living, and many have to work two jobs to make ends meet," according to Unite Here, the union organizing the strikes.
State of play: The Unite Here Local 30 union announced 95% of the 800 union workers at the Hotel Del Coronado voted Friday to authorize a strike if leaders can't secure a new contract before the existing one expires on Oct. 31.
- Union president Brigette Browning told the Union-Tribune that Hilton was willing to schedule a bargaining session for Monday.
- The ongoing labor dispute at the Hilton Bayfront in Gaslamp has resulted in lost business and garnered support from San Diego City Council, but wage negotiations remain unresolved. Their contract expired Aug. 31.
Zoom in: The union has proposed a $5-per-hour increase annually over three years at the Bayfront property, where housekeepers earn $24 per hour on average, per the U-T.
- The latest counteroffer from Hilton is a $1.25 raise each year over the life of the new contract, ABC10 reported.
- The current two-year contract for Hotel Del workers guarantees an hourly raise of $2 each year for nontipped workers.
What we're watching: Workers plan to stay on the picket lines until there's a new contract, and that could lead to a record-long strike (the current record is 42 days) for the union.